Page 253 - Chinese pottery and porcelain : an account of the potter's art in China from primitive times to the present day

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Chiin Wares and Some Others 129

innumerable and clearly due to the opalescence of the thick, bubbly-

glaze, combined with the ever-changing effects of copper oxide on

a highly fired ware. Lavender grey, dove grey, brown, and grey

green are conspicuous, but as the thickness of the glaze varies

with its downward flow, so the colour changes in tone and intensity

from a thin, almost colourless skin on the upper edges to deep

pools of mingled tints where the glaze has collected in thick masses.

It is usually streaky and shot with fine lines of colour, but some-

times there are large areas of misty grey or greenish brown tones

Atoo subtle for description. section of these glazes will generally

disclose the presence of red, and this red often bursts out on the

surface in patches which contrast vividly with the surrounding

tones. If the patches are large they will be found to shade off

into green in the centre or at the edges. It should be added

that crackle is almost always present, though it varies much in

intensity and does not seem to have been intentional.

Decoration of any kind is unusual on these wares except on

the large tripod incense burners, which often have slight applied

reliefs in the form of animals, dragons, or peony sprays, Mr.

Freer's dish (Plate 41, Fig. 1) Anth the raised floral spray is quite

exceptional.

Whatever the verdict may be on the technical qualities of these

rugged pieces as compared with more finely finished porcelain,

there can be no doubt of the artistic merit of the subtle glaze colours,

and I have seen people whose undoubted taste in other forms of

art had not previously been directed to things ceramic, display

a sudden and unexpected enthusiasm over the rough Yiian bowls.

The peculiar shape of these bowls—which, ^^'ithout their foot take

—the form of a half coco-nut has raised the question whether it

can be in any way connected with the Polynesian khava bowls.

The latter are actually made of coco-nut, and, curiously enough,

their interior after much use acquires a vivid patina, whose colour

recalls some of the Yiian tz'u glazes. The resemblance, however,

remarkable as it is, can only be accidental, for it is practically

certain that the tints of these ceramic glazes were quite unfore-

seen. Long use has usually given the surface of the Yiian tz'ii

a smooth, worn feeling, but in its first freshness the glaze had

a very high and brilliant lustre. This is shown by a few pieces

which have lately been sent from China, where they were excavated

evidently on the site of the old factory, and still remain in their

—I