Page 471 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

It is well known that the nature of porcelain bis-

cuit depends largely on the amount of iron oxide it

contains, the impure colour of bad ware being chiefly

due to the presence of that mineral. It was to kaolin

in its mass that the porcelain of China owed its

beauty its whiteness, its transparency, and its tim-

bre. Europe knew nothing of kaolin until the eigh-

teenth century. Western keramists could produce

only the well known pate tendre fusible at a tempera-
y

ture of 700 less than that supported by the pate dure

of China.

Full acquaintance with the composition of Chinese
porcelain pate and ability to reproduce its qualities
long ago put an end to the interest excited by its

first appearance among European experts. But the

same cannot be said of Chinese glazes. Among these

there are some that still defy imitation and remain

more or less a mystery. In fact, much of the beauty

of old Chinese wares is due to the texture and tone

of their glaze ; its peculiar lustre, solidity, and velvety

softness constituting features as attractive as they are

incomparable. The notes of M. d'Entrecolles, with

reference to the subject of glaze and its preparation,
are worth translating in full. " In addition," he
writes, " to boats laden with petuntse and kaolin which

line the banks at Ching-te-chen, one sees others filled

with a white liquid substance. I had long known

that this was the glazing matter which gave the

porcelain its whiteness and lustre, but I was ignorant

of its composition which I have now at length learned.

This glazing material is obtained from the hardest
rock. Although the rock from which petuntse is

obtained is also employed in making the glazing mat-

ter, only the parts that are whitest and show the most

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