Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/118

 in blue under the glaze, a pattern serrated like the teeth of a comb. By some connoisseurs this has been deemed a mark of high quality, but such an inference is erroneous. The "comb pattern" was chosen thus frequently because it was easily traced, and because its appearance of regularity and strength rendered it specially suitable to occupy the lower rim, or base, of a piece. The Nabeshima potters, as a rule, did not use marks, or copy Chinese marks, except on pieces which were obvious reproductions of Chinese originals. The obvious reason of this was that the productions of the Okawachi factories were destined solely for the house of Nabeshima. Okawachi, in fact, was a private kiln.

The "comb pattern," though doubtless intended originally as an ornament, soon came to be regarded as a factory mark; but being found sometimes on old Kutani ware, its presence cannot be taken as a conclusive sign of Nabeshima porcelain. At Okawachi, as at other factories that enjoyed the patronage of local magnates, pieces were frequently manufactured for presentation to the Court at Yedo or to some of the feudal barons. In such cases the crest of the prince or noble for whom the specimen was destined, was occasionally worked into the decoration; but as the Nabeshima style did not readily lend itself to these additions, they are comparatively uncommon on Okawachi ware.

Special note must be taken of the céladon, or Seiji, manufactured at Okawachi. It has already been mentioned that among the wares of the Middle Kingdom none enjoyed such a high reputation in Japan as the céladons of the Sung, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. To imitate these successfully would naturally have been