Page 432 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

have brought it into notice. At all events the Ching-

te-chen experts thought it worthy of imitation, and

succeeded so well that no attempt is made by Chinese

connoisseurs to distinguish between the Kwang-tung

originals and the Ching-te-chen reproductions. Both
have the same red, or reddish brown pafe, and both

the same curiously mottled and often very beautiful

glazes, unlike anything else in the range of Chinese

keramics. Japanese connoisseurs attach great value to

good specimens of Kwang-yao, the characteristics

which they consider essential being rich but soft blue,

finely and uniformly speckled "with white, lustrous

glaze, and general accuracy of technique. For pieces

satisfying these conditions they have always been

ready to pay high prices, and the natural consequence

mis that choice specimens of Kwang-yao are

'

numerous in Japan than in China. It seems strange

that this ware has not commanded

VASE (HEIGHT, 14 INCHES) OF KANG-HSI, EGGSHELL TING-YAO ;
West, tor its OFT PA STE.

successful production webee 263.) ictely a thing

of the past.

The third principal variety of Kwang-yao has already
been spoken of. Reference is made to it again merely

for convenience of classification. It is distinguished

by its peculiar viscous clair-de-lune glaze. The pate

resembles that of the flambe Kwang-yao described

above, but is usually finer. This ware is often con-

founded with Tuan-tsu (Yuan dynasty ware), the two

having very similar pates and general likeness of
Kcolour. Fine specimens of this kind of
ao,

with their rich velvety glaze and soft bloom iish

creamy white, passing into light and deep tints of

lilac or azure, rank high among keramic productions.

It is, however, probable that many of the best speci-