Page 473 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

reference to the deterioration of porcelain must be

taken in the sense that many of the grand mono-
chromes of the Ming dynasty were, in his day, es-

teemed above anything subsequently produced, though
with such an estimate connoisseurs of the present age

are not likely to agree. " The quality of the lime

and the nature of the ferns," he continues, " contrib-

ute appreciably to the excellence of the glazing mat-
ter, and I have remarked that the lime and ferns of

certain localities are much more highly esteemed
than those of others. The workmen, having obtained

a sufficiency of these ashes of lime and ferns, throw

them into an urn filled with water. Then to every

hundred parts by weight there is added one part of

fibrous gypsum. The mixture is well shaken and

left to settle, until there floats on the surface a scum

which is removed and placed in a second urn. This

purifying process is repeated several times, until a

species of paste is formed at the bottom of the second

urn. The water is then carefully drained off and the

residue is the matter which is mixed with the glazing
liquid obtained from petuntse as described above. It
is essential that the mixture should be of uniform

consistency, and to determine this, pieces of petuntse

are plunged into it. By examining the surface of
these when they are withdrawn, it is possible to
estimate the intimacy in which the components of
the glaze are mingled. With regard to the quantities
in which the lime and fern compound is added to the
petuntse liquid, ten parts by weight of the latter go to

one part of the former."
This account shows plainly that the quality of the

glazing material depended largely on the expertness

and care of those that prepared it. The industry

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