Page 368 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

surfaces is clear white. Colouring matter said to be
that employed in the preparation of this very choice
porcelain, was analyzed at Sevres, and found to con-
sist simply of oxide of iron with a flux. It is scarcely
credible that the clear, brilliant ruby red of the Pao-
shi-hung porcelain can have been obtained with a

material reputed so inferior.

Another variety of red, scarcely, however, deserv-

ing special classification, is called Hung-mien, or

" cotton-floss red." Whether this term is derived

from the name of a maker or was suggested by a

peculiar mottling of the glaze, remains uncertain.

The ware may easily be mistaken for Lang-yao, of

which, indeed it seems to have been intended as a

reproduction. It lacks, however, the grand phases

of colour that distinguish true Sang-de-baeuf.

The above represent all the red monochromes de

grandfeu that is to say, monochromes produced in

the open furnace at the same temperature as that

required to bake the porcelain mass on which they

are superposed. Reds painted on the biscuit and vit-

rified at a comparatively low temperature, belong to

another class that of couleurs de moujjle.

The Tao-Iu, speaking of the renowned expert Tang,
who with Nien presided over the imperial factories

at Ching-te-chen from 1727, says that in a memoir

written by a certain savant, Tang is credited with

having revived the manufacture of brilliant red mono-

chromes. The inference suggested by this is that

such porcelains had ceased to be produced for some

years when Tang assumed charge of the factories.

But Chinese connoisseurs of the present day are

unanimous in ascribing to Kang-hsi experts the finest

specimens of the choice glazes enumerated above.

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