Page 372 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

of Sevres. These are used both for painting over the

glaze and for monochromes. As monochromes they
are found ""
on the so-called ruby-backed egg-shell

bowls and plates, so highly esteemed by American
" Red " and
a"nJdujEuubreopReeadn" collector,
are also though Rouge same pur-
employed for the

pose. In decoration over the glaze they are seen on
the beautiful porcelains of the Rose Family.

The term "ruby-backed" to which reference

has already been made is employed by Western

connoisseurs to denote porcelains which, though they

do not constitute a separate family, being simply a

variety of the Famille Rose, have seemed worthy of

independent designation. They are certainly very

choice and beautiful examples of keramic art. Their

distinguishing feature, as the name denotes, is that

the outer surface is completely covered with red

enamel. The porcelain being as thin as paper, this

coloured backing is distinctly seen through it, an

effect of great softness and delicacy being thus pro-

duced. The enamel generally used is that called

Ten-chi-hung (rouge red), but Tsao-hung (jujube red)

is also found, as well as crimson and pink of the
"
European type." It will be seen, therefore, that

the colour of the backing varies, and that the term
" "
ruby red is too limited to be truly descriptive.

Plates, bowls, and small cups are practically the only

examples of this ware. Evidently the potter, guided

by the consideration that the effect of the enamel

backing would be lost unless the whole inner surface

of the piece were visible, and doubtless deterred by

the difficulties of the task, gtehneera"lrlyubrye"frabiancekd infgroims
Sometimes
making vases.

the only decoration employed, but usually the other

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