Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/117

 are not uncommon, but can scarcely be accorded a high place among wares of this description, the tone of the blue being neither sufficiently intense and brilliant to compete with Chinese colours of the Ming and Kang-shi periods, nor yet so soft and refined as to rank with the outcome of the Hirado factories, presently to be described. It is difficult to convey, in writing, any definite rules by which the wares of Nabeshima and Imari may be distinguished, though in practice the amateur is in little danger of confounding them. The Nabeshima-yaki is altogether the less gaudy ware of the two. It seldom suggests that decorative effect was the potter's object, neither on any specimen are there seen those masses of dark blue and deep, dull red which constitute the staple of the Imari decoration. As for the designs, they are confined almost exclusively to floral subjects, scrolls, and diapers. Occasionally figures and landscapes are copied directly from the Chinese, but the commonest types are cherry branches and blossoms, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, peonies—not flowers alone, but also leaves and sprays—floral scrolls in blue with additions such as conventional butterflies, birds, blossoms, and so forth, in orange-red and gold. Combinations of carefully executed diapers surrounding medallions of flowers and fruits are sometimes seen. In many pieces, especially plates or dishes with raised bases, the bottom, instead of being sunken within its rim, as is usual in such vessels, will be found to have no rim, but only a hole in the centre. The object of this troublesome method of construction is doubtless to make the dish stand more firmly on the soft mats which cover a Japanese room. Round the base of small plates, bowls, etc., the potter constantly traced,