Page 219 - Chinese pottery and porcelain : an account of the potter's art in China from primitive times to the present day

CHAPTER IX

CHUN WARES AND SOME OTHERS

^Chiin Chou >}[] ware ^

THE Chiin ware is said to have been first made in the early-
part of the Sung dynasty at Chiin Chou or Chiin-t'ai, the
modern Yii Chou in the K'ai-feng Fu in Honan. Like the
Lung-ch'iian celadon, thanks to its strength and solidity, it has sur-
vived in sufficient numbers to give us some idea of the qualities which
Chinese writers have described in picturesque terms. That it finds no

mention in the Cho keng lu and the Ko ku yao lun seems to imply

that it was not appreciated by the virtuosi of the fourteenth
century, owing, no doubt, to the fact that, as hinted in later works,
it was chiefly destined for everyday uses and aimed at serviceable

qualities rather than " antique elegance." By the end of the Ming

dynasty, however, its beautiful glazes had won it a place among the

celebrated Sung wares, although even at this time certain varieties
only were considered estimable. The Ch'ing pi is'ang, for instance,
which appears to rank the Chiin ware above that of Lung-ch'iian,
gives the following criticism : " The Chiin Chou ware, which is
red like rouge, is highly prized ; that which is ch'ing like onion
blue {ts'iing ts'ui), and that which is purplish brown (tew) like ink,
are esteemed second ; single-coloured pieces, which have the
numerals one, two, etc., as marks on the bottom, are choice ; the
specimens of this ware with mixed colours {isa se) are not worth
collecting." It was not long, however, before even the despised
" mixed colours " were not only appreciated by collectors, but
studiously imitated by the Ching-te Chen potters.

The body of the wares, which are now classed as " Chiin type,"

varies considerably in quality and texture. The choicest examples
in Western collections, usually deep flower pots or shallow bulb
bowls with lovely glazes of dove grey, lavender, crushed straw-

^ j^ is an alternative form of |^.

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