Page 356 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

Kang-hsi kilns. In everything tl ^es for excel-

lence depth, brilliancy, and p ;'our, lustre

and solidity of glaze, ciosene ~ness of pate,
and general technical skill ~ the hsi Lang-yao

yields nothing to the Chi-hung n .romes of the
ace is that,
Ming dynasty. An important

whereas the Hsien-hung (rouge Pao-shi-hung

(ruby red) wares of the Ming pottt orally 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

boeuf of the West, and in Chinese eyes good ex

of it rank very high among fine porcelains.

Perhaps there is no ware about which inexperienced

amateurs are more constantly and egregiously deceived.

VASE (-HEIGHT, 11 INCHES) OF KANG-HSI TING-YAO. .

aDscnce canseen,Coptinedefirrom an ancient bronze.Decoration in relief. Soft paster. f(rSece^Gpacgrac2i64C.T)ca.

Tcvrrct;

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 are
indescribable. Sometimes it covers the
com-

pletely and uniformly, except at the upper rim where

a fringe of white is set- \etimes it merges into a

broad cloud of much I . olour. Of course the

latter want of absolute regularity within the limits of