Page:Brinkley - China - Volume 1.djvu/83



HUS far, this examination of early Chinese wares may be said to have led to three conclusions. First, up to the end of the thirteenth century, Chinese keramic experts, of deliberate choice, preferred pâte tendre or stone-ware to hard porcelain biscuit. The latter they were probably able to produce: indeed, some specimens of later Ting-yao may be placed in this category. But the former lent itself better to the solid, rich, and lustrous monochromatic glazes so much affected by the Sung potters. Secondly, the variety of wares produced in these early centuries of the art's history was not large. With one exception—the Chün-yao—monochromes alone were esteemed. The principal colours were green, verging more or less on blue; white, of different shades; purple; cinamon red, and black. These monochromes were ornamented with designs incised or in relief, more or less elaborate, and in the great majority of cases copied from ancient bronzes. Thirdly, among the wares of the period, céladons were facile principes. The potter's constant and highest aim was to produce the peculiar greenish cerulean glaze which had its origin in the Chai-yao of the tenth century.