Page 402 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

M. Salvetat says that French keramists have experi-

enced no difficulty in imitating the Tzu-chin glaze,
but in China and Japan its production has never been

deemed easy. The celebrated Hao Shih-chu, who

flourished at the end of the sixteenth century, is said
to have been remarkable for his skill in manufactur-

ing monochromes of this kind. The colour varies

from chocolate to light brown. Decoration in white
slip was often added with excellent effect. In com-
paratively modern and valueless pieces the Tzu-chin
often covers outside surfaces while the interiors have
a glaze of impure mazarine blue or green. Speci-
mens of brown monochromes are seldom of large
dimensions. Rice-cups, bowls, plates, and small vases

are the usual examples. Good pieces generally have

designs engraved under the glaze.

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