Page:Brinkley - China - Volume 1.djvu/253

 PORCELAIN DECORATED

facture. The decorative design is usually dragons. They figure upon almost all choice porcelains of the Ming dynasty, especially on those destined for impe- rial use. Similar ware was produced with success down to the close of the eighteenth century.

Yellow designs with blue environment have already been noted as a Ming invention. Later epochs pro- duced few specimens of this kind. Much commoner are pieces having mazarin blue grounds with rich enamelled decoration of the Rose Family type. On these the Chinese potter expended much care and was justified by the result. Ware of this nature scarcely deserves to be classed separately from that having enamelled decoration on a souffé blue ground, though the two differ more in reality than in descrip- tion. Fine pieces of mazarin blue with enamel dec- oration were produced as late as the CAza-tsing era (1796-1821) or even during the early years of Taou- kwang’s reign (1821-1851). It may be taken as a rule, however, that the younger the specimen the coarser its pate and the less brilliant its glaze and colour.

Green was seldom chosen by Chinese potters as a ground for enamel decoration. Delicate cé/adon glazes from the Kang-hst or Chien-lung factories, have bril- liant red dragons or lizards coiled round the vase. These are rare, and deservedly prized. Belonging to the same era, but more common, are cé/adons having red peaches or pomegranates suspended in the glaze. Others again, not the least beautiful of the three, show flecks or spots of golden brown floating in their vel- vet-like glaze. Entirely distinct from this unique céladon colour is thin grass-green with metallic irides- cence. This is found sometimes as a body-colour

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