This luminous blue is nothing like the turquoise, which also the Chinese carried to great perfection. The turquoise was produced from copper, the celestial from cobalt.
The pieces Figs. 107, 108, and 109 are excellent examples of the celestial blue. Fig. 107 is a large vase of Mrs. Burlingame’s, and has the stately palm which is much used in this color. The vase is some eighteen inches high. Fig. 108 is a delicately-formed teapot, with exquisite glaze and paste, the blue showing in the reserves and along the handle and spout. It was given to the writer by a gentleman in Holland. Fig. 109 is a most dainty bit, a small snuff-bottle. There are some few others in this country—two of them, mounted in silver, belong to Mr. Schlesinger, of Boston.
Fig. 111.—Incense-Pot, from Mr. Avery’s Collection.
The Art-Museum of Boston has now two exquisite pots of turquoise blue, bought at the sale of Mr. Heard’s collection for some six hundred dollars. We picture one of these to show the form, and the dragon which finishes the top ([Fig. 110]). The dragon is in dark red, the pot in turquoise blue; but this blue has another and a rare quality: it is covered all over with delicate spots or dots of the same color, what is called “soufflé”—this is said to be produced by blowing the color through a fine screen or gauze on to the clay.
The sea-greens (céladons) are among the rarest Chinese colors, and some pieces are thought to be among the oldest—dating back possibly one thousand years.