Page 380 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

(1662) down to the closing years of the eighteenth

century this delicate glaze was manufactured success-
fully and in larger quantities. There were various
tones, from pale lemon to deep straw-colour, though
only two were specially distinguished, light yellow
(Hiao-hivang) and golden yellow (Chin-hwang}.
Small pieces, as bowls, cups, censers, miniature
vases, and so forth, were chiefly produced. Occa-
sionally crackle was added, but in the great majority
of cases the potter confined his decoration to incised
designs of a comparatively simple character, the per-

petual dragon figuring prominently. It is unfortu-
nate that this beautiful glaze was not employed in

the manufacture of more important pieces, for its
delicacy and softness can scarcely be over-estimated.

The experts of the Tsing dynasty, however, preferred

to produce the thicker variety, in which the colour,

applied to the surface of the biscuit after stoving,

presents an opaque, dull appearance. Not a few fine

specimens of this class survive. They are usually

modelled after the fashion of bronzes, having fluted
or diapered surfaces and handles shaped into grotesque
monsters. Yellow is the sovereign colour of the

Tsing dynasty, and it may be for that reason that
yellow monochromes are comparatively uncommon.

Porcelains having designs in green in a yellow field

of the opaque type are more numerous. Western
connoisseurs often distinguish them by the title of
" Imperial Ware," though they have no special claim

to be thus honoured.

The yellow craquele mentioned above must be dis-
yellow
tinguished from the so-called " mustard " of

Occidental collectors. The latter is of the inferior

type ; its colour being an opaque enamel applied to

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