Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/406

 to the production of flambé glazes after Chinese models. These were often tolerably successful, but the number of failures was always so great that the price of the successful pieces became well-nigh prohibitive, and the manufacture is consequently no longer carried on.

Another factory of some importance in Kishiu is that of Meppō, which was established at the end of the eighteenth or the beginning of the nineteenth century. Its productions were almost entirely confined to céladons. They are known either as Meppo-yaki or Zuishi-yaki. Good specimens are generally stamped "Zuishi" (vide Plates), that designation being employed because the green colour of the porcelain was supposed to resemble that of a grass called Zuishi which grew in profusion near the site of the manufacture. The ware is, for the most part ornamented with designs in relief under the glaze, and these are often executed with considerable skill. Rokuro, a pupil of the celebrated Kyōtō artist Rokubei, was the first workman of note employed at the factory. During his time the Meppo-yakin enjoyed considerable reputation, but it gradually fell into disfavour, and, in spite of some fitful support from Tanzan of Kyōto and others, the manufacture was finally abandoned a few years ago.

It will be convenient here to pass from the province of Kishiu to that of Settsu, in order to speak of the present representative of the beautiful Oniwa-yaki (vide