Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/79

 specimens of Arita clay analysed by Professor H. Wurtz, one only gave results nearly corresponding with this formula: seven were found to contain from 7.45 to 82.3 per cent of silica; from 12 to 19 per cent of alumina, and from 1 to 3.7 per cent of other matters. The eighth specimen (from Kudaru-yama) contained 49.9 per cent of silica; 38.7 per cent of alumina, and 7.6 per cent of other matters, thus approaching very nearly to the formula mentioned above for porcelain earth proper. From these figures Wurtz concluded that the porcelain of Hizen is made without Kaolin, and that its body consists entirely of Petuntse, or petro-siliceous minerals. This verdict of Wurtz is confirmed by the researches of an independent analyst, Gümbel, who examined six specimens of Arita porcelain, and found that only one (that made with material from Kudaru-yama) was earthy. It will be seen, therefore, that Kakiemon, Goroshichi, and Risampei had to work, with a somewhat difficult material. Indeed, it may be said generally of the Arita porcelain that its pâte is not naturally of fine quality. The utmost care was necessary in manipulating it, and so exhausting was the labour entailed that men were wont to speak of human bones as constituting one of the ingredients of the ware. There is, therefore, no reason to suppose that Kakiemon and his fellow-potters succeeded in producing anything very striking in those early days. Not many specimens of their work have survived, but they suffice to show that it was a somewhat rough porcelain, decorated with blue under the glaze, and copied, with more or less fidelity, from Chinese models. The designs of the Middle Kingdom were modified in accordance with Japanese taste, but the popular conception of choice porcelain having been