Page 354 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

Kang-hsi kilns. In everything that makes for excel-
lence depth, brilliancy, and purity of colour, lustre
and solidity of glaze, closeness and fineness of pate,

and general technical skill the Kang-hsi Lang-yao

yields nothing to the Chi-hung monochromes of the

Ming dynasty. An important difference is that,

whereas the Hsien-hung (rouge vif) and Pao-shi-hung

(ruby red) wares of the Ming potters generally had

incised decoration under the glaze, the Lang-yao is

invariably without this feature. In truth the Lang-

yao is not the real Tsing representative of the Ming
Chi-hung. It will be shown presently that the latter
is more accurately reproduced in another and still

choicer porcelain. But the Lang-yao is the Sang de
bceuf of the West, and in Chinese eyes good examples

of it rank very high among fine porcelains.
Perhaps there is no ware about which inexperienced

amateurs are more constantly and egregiously deceived.
Yet the marks of excellence are so plain that, if once

seen, their absence can scarcely fail to be detected.

Speaking broadly, there are five varieties, but the col-

lector, in accepting this classification, must remember
that it is scarcely possible to find two specimens of

Lang-yao exactly alike. The potter, as has been

already remarked, could never control the conditions
in the kiln sufficiently to count with absolute cer-

tainty on the tone and tint of the glaze after firing.
In the first and choicest variety the glaze is com-

paratively thin. Its brilliancy, softness, and sheen are
indescribable. Sometimes it covers the surface com-

pletely and uniformly, except at the upper rim where
a fringe of white is seen ; sometimes it merges into a

broad cloud of much lighter colour. Of course the

latter want of absolute regularity within the limits of

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