Page 481 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

When egg-shell porcelain or other very delicate

ware had to be glazed, the methods of aspersion or
immersion while the clay was still soft, presented

additional embarrassment. It is said that the diffi-

culty of handling such pieces inspired the invention

of the process of insufflation, to which are due some

very beautiful effects. But examination of the curi-

ously mottled glazes of the Chun-yao and other chefs-

d'oeuvre of the Sung Dynasty, shows that the practice

of some such method must have preceded by a con-

siderable interval the manufacture of egg-shell porce-

lain. In applying glaze by insufflation, the potter

used a tube having its orifice covered with gauze,

through which he blew the glazing material. In

this way a dappled appearance, known by collectors

as souffle, was obtained. The results varied according

to the patience with which this process was performed

and the degree of consistency of the glaze. Evidently

the tone of the colour could be changed by repeating

the insufflation in this respect the process may be
;

described as stippling. Again, by blowing on differ-

ent colours, intermingled clouds of variegated speckles

made their appearance. Finally, by increasing the

consistency of the glazing material and the quantity

of kaolin it contained, there was produced a sha-

greened surface varying in roughness from the rind

of a lime to a dust of millet seed.

As to the means by which the Chinese manufac-
tured the much-admired egg-shell porcelain, there is

no certain information. In Europe, ware of great

thinness is obtained by a simple and ingenious device.

The porcelain patey having been brought to a liquid

state, is poured into a mould of dry plaster. That
portion of the pate which comes into direct contact

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