In a general work of this kind much important matter has had to be omitted. That is inevitable. I only hope that specialists in certain definite parts of the wide field covered will not find that I have committed myself to rash or ungrounded generalisations. Let them remember that the carefully guarded statements and the reservations suitable to a scientific paper would be out of place in a work intended in the main for the general public.
E. D.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| [Preface] | [v] |
| [List of Illustrations] | [xii] |
| [Selected List of Works on Porcelain] | [xxvi] |
| [Key to the Bibliographical List] | [xxxiii] |
| [List of Works on other subjects referred to in the Text] | [xxxv] |
| [Chapter I.] Introductory and Scientific | [1] |
| [Chapter II.] The Materials: Mixing, Fashioning, and Firing | [14] |
| [Chapter III.] Glazes | [30] |
| [Chapter IV.] Decoration by means of Colour | [38] |
| [Chapter V.] The Porcelain of China. Introductory—Classification—The Sung Dynasty—The Mongol or Yuan Dynasty | [49] |
| [Chapter VI.] The Porcelain of China (continued). The Ming Dynasty | [78] |
| [Chapter VII.] The Porcelain of China (continued). The Manchu or Tsing Dynasty | [96] |
| [Chapter VIII.] The Porcelain of China (continued). Marks | [117] |
| [Chapter IX.] The Porcelain of China (continued). King-te-chen and the Père D’Entrecolles | [123] |
| [Chapter X.] The Porcelain of China (continued). Forms and uses—Descriptions of the various Wares | [137] |
| [Chapter XI.] The Porcelain of Korea and of the Indo-Chinese Peninsula | [168] |
| [Chapter XII.] The Porcelain of Japan | [177] |
| [Chapter XIII.] From East to West | [208] |
| [Chapter XIV.] The First Attempts at Imitation in Europe | [233] |
| [Chapter XV.] The Hard-Paste Porcelain of Germany. Böttger and the Porcelain of Meissen | [244] |
| [Chapter XVI.] The Hard-Paste Porcelain of Germany (continued). Vienna—Berlin—Höchst—Fürstenberg—Ludwigsburg—Nymphenburg—Frankenthal—Fulda—Strassburg. The Hard and Soft Pastes of Switzerland, Hungary, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia | [259] |
| [Chapter XVII.] The Soft-Paste Porcelain of France. Saint-Cloud—Lille—Chantilly—Mennecy—Paris—Vincennes—Sèvres | [277] |
| [Chapter XVIII.] The Hard-Paste Porcelain of Sèvres and Paris | [305] |
| [Chapter XIX.] The Soft and Hybrid Porcelains of Italy and Spain | [316] |
| [Chapter XX.] English Porcelain. Introduction. The Soft-Paste Porcelain of Chelsea and Bow | [326] |
| [Chapter XXI.] English Porcelain (continued). The Soft Paste of Derby, Worcester, Caughley, Coalport, Swansea, Nantgarw, Lowestoft, Liverpool, Pinxton, Rockingham, Church Gresley, Spode, and Belleek | [350] |
| [Chapter XXII.] English Porcelain (continued). The Hard Paste of Plymouth and Bristol | [375] |
| [Chapter XXIII.] Contemporary European Porcelain | [387] |
| [Explanation of the Marks on the Plates] | [395] |
| [Marks on Porcelain] | [400] |
| [Index]: [A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F], [G], [H], [I], [J], [K], [L], [M], [N], [O], [P], [Q], [R], [S], [T], [U], [V], [W], [Y], [Z] | [405] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| [i.] | Japanese, Imari porcelain (‘Old Japan’). (H. c. 19 in.) Vase, slaty-blue under glaze, iron-red of various shades and gold over glaze. Early eighteenth century. Salting collection. | ([Frontispiece.]) |
| [ii.] | Chinese, Ming porcelain. (H. c. 15 in.) Jar with blue-black ground and thin, skin-like glaze. Decoration in relief slightly counter-sunk, pale yellow and greenish to turquoise blue. Probably fifteenth century. Salting collection. | (To face [p. 44.]) |
| [iii.] | (1) Chinese. (H. c. 9 in.) Figure of the Teaching Buddha. Celadon glaze, the hair black. Uncertain date. British Museum.
(2) Chinese, probably Ming dynasty. (H. 11¼ in.) Vase with open-work body, enclosing plain inner vessel. Thick celadon glaze. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 64.]) |
| [iv.] | Chinese, Sung porcelain. (H. c. 12 in.) Small jar with thick pale-blue glaze, and some patches of copper-red; faintly crackled. Circa 1200. British Museum. | (To face [p. 71.]) |
| [v.] | Chinese, Ming porcelain. Three small bowls with apple-green glaze. Fifteenth or sixteenth century. British Museum.
(1) Floral design in gold on green ground. (Diam. 4¾ in.) On base a coin-like mark, inscribed Chang ming fu kwei—‘long life, riches, and honour.’ (2) Similar decoration and identical inscription to above (diam. 4¾ in.), set in a German silver-gilt mounting of sixteenth century. (3) Shallow bowl (diam. 5¼ in.). Inside, apple-green band with gold pattern similar to above; in centre, cranes among clouds—blue under glaze. | (To face [p. 81.]) |
| [vi.] | Chinese. Ming porcelain. (H. 7¾ ins.) Spherical vase, floral decoration of Persian type in blue under glaze; the neck has probably been removed for conversion into base of hookah. Probably sixteenth century. Bought in Persia. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 84.]) |
| [vii.] | (1) Chinese. Ming porcelain. (H. c. 18 in.) Baluster-shaped vase; greyish crackle ground, painted over the glaze with turquoise blue flowers (with touches of cobalt), green leaves and manganese purple scrolls; a little yellow in places, and around neck cobalt blue band under glaze. On base, mark of Cheng-hua, possibly of as early a date (1464-87). British Museum.
(2) Chinese. Ming porcelain. (H. c. 19 in.) Vase of square section with four mask handles, imitating old bronze form. Enamelled with dragons and phœnixes; copper-green and iron-red over glaze with a few touches of yellow, combined with cobalt blue under glaze. Inscription, under upper edge, ‘Dai Ming Wan-li nien shi.’ Circa 1600. British Museum. | (To face [p. 90.]) |
| [viii.] | Chinese. Ming porcelain. Covered inkslab (L. 9¾ in.), pen-rest (L. 9 in.), and spherical vessel (H. 8 in.). Decorated with scroll-work in cobalt blue under the glaze. Persian inscriptions in cartels, relating to literary pursuits. Mark of Cheng-te (1505-21). Obtained in Pekin. British Museum. | (To face [p. 94.]) |
| [ix.] | Chinese, turquoise ware. Probably early eighteenth century. Salting collection.
(1) Pear-shaped vase (H. 8½ in.), decorated with phœnix in low relief. Six-letter mark of Cheng-hua. (2) Plate with pierced margin (diam. 11 in.). Filfot in centre encircled by cloud pattern, in low relief. (3) Small spherical incense-burner (H. 5 in.). Floral design in low relief. | (To face [p. 98.]) |
| [x.] | Chinese, famille verte. (H. 18 in.) Vase of square section, decorated with flowers of the four seasons. Green, purple, and yellow enamels and white, as reserve, on a black ground. Mark of Cheng-hua. Circa 1700. Salting collection. | (To face [p. 100.]) |
| [xi.] | Chinese, famille verte. (H. 26 in.) Baluster-shaped vase, decorated with dragons with four claws and snake-like bodies amid clouds. Poor yellow, passing into white, green of two shades, and manganese purple upon a black ground. A very thin skin of glaze, with dullish surface. Probably before 1700. Salting collection. | (To face [p. 102.]) |
| [xii.] | Chinese, egg-shell porcelain. Famille rose. (1) Plate (diam. 8¼ in.). On border, vine with grapes, in gold. In centre, lady on horseback, accompanied by old man and boy carrying scrolls. 1730-50. British Museum. (2) Plate (diam. 8½ in.) In centre the arms of the Okeover family with elaborate mantling. Initials of Luke Okeover and his wife on margin. Early famille rose, the rouge d’or only sparingly applied. Circa 1725. British Museum. | (To face [p. 108.]) |
| [xiii.] | (1) Chinese, famille verte. Long-necked, globular vase (H. 17 in.), enamelled with figures of Taoist sages, etc.: green, iron-red, yellow, purple, and opaque blue, all over the glaze. Early eighteenth century. Salting collection.
(2) Chinese. Tall cylindrical vase (H. 18 in.). Red fish among eddies of gold on blue ground. Early eighteenth century. Salting collection. (3) Chinese. Spindle-shaped vase (H. 18 in.). Pure white, chalky ground; three fabulous animals seated. 1720-40. Salting collection. | (To face [p. 110.]) |
| [xiv.] | Japanese. Imari porcelain. Large dish (diam. 20 in.). Painted under the glaze with cobalt blue in various shades, relieved with gold. In centre, landscape with Baptism of Christ. Below, in panel on margin—Mat. 3 16. Seventeenth century. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 133.]) |
| [xv.] | (1) Chinese. Open-work cylinder (H. 5¼ in.) formed of nine interlacing dragons; the top pierced with nine holes. Plain white ware, with greyish white glaze. Probably Ting ware of Ming period. Victoria and Albert Museum. (2) Chinese. Ming porcelain. Water-vessel for base of hookah (H. 4¾ in.). Cobalt blue under glaze. Chinese sixteenth century; made for the Persian market. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 142.]) |
| [xvi.] | Chinese. Two vases for flowers (H. 11¼ and 10½ in.). Floral design in white slip upon a fond laque or ‘dead leaf’ ground. Seventeenth century. Bought in Persia. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 146.]) |
| [xvii.] | Chinese. Three vases, examples of flambé or
‘transmutation’ glazes. First half eighteenth century. Salting collection.
(1) Vase with monster handles (H. 9 in.); glaze irregularly crackled. (2) Cylindrical vase, made in a mould (H. 10 in.). (3) Small pear-shaped vase (H. 7½ in.), mottled red and blue. | (To face [p. 150.]) |
| [xviii.] | (1) Chinese ‘blue and white.’ Small vase (H. 7½ in.). The paste pierced before glazing to form an open-work pattern filled up by glaze. Eighteenth century. British Museum.
(2) Chinese ‘blue and white.’ Mortar-shaped vase (H. 10 in.). Scattered figures of Taoist sages in pale blue. Chinese, probably sixteenth century. British Museum. | (To face [p. 154.]) |
| [xix.] | Chinese, Ming porcelain. Vase (H. 9½ in.), shaped into vertical, convex panels. The top has been ground down. Very thick paste, showing marks of juncture of moulds. Decoration of kilins and pine-trees in exceptionally brilliant cobalt blue under glaze. Probably fifteenth century. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 157.]) |
| [xx.] | Chinese. Globular vase with long neck (H. 17¾ in.). Design built up of lines of iron-red and gold. Circa 1720. Bought in Persia. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 162.]) |
| [xxi.] | Chinese armorial porcelain. Octagonal plate (diam. 16 in.). Talbot arms in centre surrounded by design of books, scrolls, etc.—all in blue under glaze. Early eighteenth century. British Museum. | (To face [p. 164.]) |
| [xxii.] | Chinese porcelain from Siam. Three covered bowls, probably enamelled in Canton for the Siamese market. Early nineteenth century. Victoria and Albert Museum.
(1) Floral design in iron-red, green and yellow over glaze. (H. 6½ in.) (2) Buddhist divinities in panels amid flame-like ground. Opaque enamels—iron-red, pink, yellow and black. (H. 9 in.) (3) Floral design in cobalt blue under glaze. (H. 6¼ in.) Brass rim and foot. Said to be a cinerary urn. (Tho-khôt.) | (To face [p. 174.]) |
| [xxiii.] | Japanese, Kakiyemon ware. Circa 1650. British Museum.
(1) Saucer or plate with scalloped edge (diam. 9¾ in.). Prunus springing from straw hedge, Chinese boy and tigers. Enamels—green, yellow, iron-red and blue, all over glaze. (2) Four-sided bottle (H. 8¾ in.). Formally treated flowers in iron-red, green and blue, all over glaze. (3) Octagonal saucer (diam. 5¾ in.). Decoration of quails and flowers in iron-red, green and gold over glaze, with cobalt blue under glaze. | (To face [p. 184.]) |
| [xxiv.] | (1) Chinese. Covered bowl (H. 8 in.). Floral rosette with fourteen lobes in imitation of the Japanese kiku-mon. Iron-red, green and gold over glaze with deep cobalt blue under glaze. Early eighteenth century; made at King-te-chen in imitation of the contemporary Imari ware. Salting collection.
(2) Japanese, Imari ware. Bowl with scalloped edge (diam. 9 in.). Chrysanthemum flowers in low relief; iron-red, green and gold over glaze and cobalt blue under glaze. Circa 1700. Salting collection. | (To face [p. 186.]) |
| [xxv.] | Japanese, Imari ware. Large plate (diam. 22 in.). On margin, mandarin ducks, cranes and doves in panels amid flowers; in centre, two eagles. Iron-red of various shades, gold and a few touches of green over glaze with deep cobalt blue under glaze. Late seventeenth century. Salting collection. | (To face [p. 188.]) |
| [ xxvi.] | Japanese, Kutani ware. Jar (H. 13 in.); on a greyish white, somewhat crackled ground, grotesque dancing figures; iron-red, manganese purple, yellow, green, and blue, all over glaze. Seventeenth century. British Museum. | (To face [p. 204.]) |
| [xxvii.] | Japanese. Kutani, kaolinic stoneware. Octagonal bottle, in shape of double gourd (H. 12 in.). Thick enamels—green (predominant), iron-red, purple and blue, all over glaze. Circa 1700. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 206.]) |
| [xxviii.] | Chinese ‘blue and white.’ Two bowls, set in copper-gilt mounts of English make, circa 1600-1620. From a set of five pieces long preserved at Burleigh House. Pierpont Morgan collection.
(1) Shallow bowl (diam. 9 in.), in centre medallion with phœnix. Mark of Wan-li (1572-1619). (2) Bowl, with deer in panels (diam. 10 in.). Circa 1600. | (To face [p. 222.]) |
| [xxix.] | Medici porcelain. Late sixteenth century. Victoria and Albert Museum.
(1) Pear-shaped vase (H. 6⅞ in.). Floral design in cobalt blue, outlined with manganese black, both under glaze. (2) Double-necked cruet (H. 6 in.). Design in pale blue under glaze. On the neck, A and O, for aceto and oglio. | (To face [p. 236.]) |
| [xxx.] | Medici porcelain. Plate or shallow bowl (diam. 7 in.). Floral design in somewhat Persian style, in cobalt blue under glaze. On back, the dome of Sta. Maria del fiore and the letter F. Late sixteenth century. Fitzhenry collection. | (To face [p. 238.]) |
| [xxxi.] | Meissen porcelain. Hexagonal vase with cover (H. 12 in.). Floral design in coloured enamels of the Kakiyemon style. Mark, the crossed swords in blue. 1730-50. Franks collection (Bethnal Green). | (To face [p. 253.]) |
| [xxxii.] | (1) Meissen porcelain. Plate with wavy edge
(diam. 9 in.). Claret border with gold sprigs. Humming-bird in centre. Mark, the crossed swords with dot in blue. 1763-74, in imitation of Chelsea ware. Victoria and Albert Museum, ex Bernal collection.
(2) Ludwigsburg porcelain. Plate (diam. 9¼ in.). Scrolls in low relief in white round margin; scattered flowers in lilac camaïeu. Mark, double C under crown, for Carl, Duke of Würtemberg. 1760-70. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 266.]) |
| [xxxiii.] | (1) Rouen porcelain. Cup (H. 3¼ in.). Conventional design, in dark blue under glaze, in style of seventeenth century. Thin and very translucent body. Probably before 1700. Fitzhenry collection.
(2) Saint-Cloud porcelain. Ewer with cover (H. 7¾ in.). Scale pattern in relief. Celadon glaze of sagy-green tint. Mounted with thumb-piece and rim of engraved silver. Circa 1700. Fitzhenry collection. (3) Saint-Cloud porcelain. Ewer with cover (H. 5¼ in.). Conventional design, in blue under glaze, in style of seventeenth century. Circa 1700. Fitzhenry collection. | (To face [p. 282.]) |
| [xxxiv.] | Chantilly porcelain. Two cylindrical vases with covers (H. 7 in.). Rims mounted in silver (one gilt). Enamelled over the glaze in the Kakiyemon style-Chinese landscape and boys playing. Mark, hunting-horn in red. Circa 1730-40. Fitzhenry collection. | (To face [p. 286.]) |
| [xxxv.] | (1) Sèvres, white biscuit-ware (H. 6½ in.). Young girl seated with a sabot in her lap, a child crouching beside her. Mark, F incised
(perhaps for Falconet or for the year 1758). Franks collection (Bethnal Green).
(2) Mennecy, white glazed ware. Figure of bagpiper (H. 9½ in.). Circa 1750. (From an engraving by J. Dumont le Rom, 1739.) Franks collection (Bethnal Green). | (To face [p. 288.]) |
| [xxxvi.] | (1) Vincennes or Early Sèvres porcelain. Ewer with cover (H. 4¾ in.). Gros bleu ground with birds and flowers in white reserves. Mark, double L with three dots, in blue under glaze. Circa 1750. Victoria and Albert Museum; Jones collection.
(2) and (3) Sèvres porcelain. Two small sucriers (H. 3 in.). Gros bleu and green ground, with birds on branches painted in white reserves. No mark, but early. Victoria and Albert Museum; Jones collection. | (To face [p. 294.]) |
| [xxxvii.] | Sèvres porcelain. Vase (H. 10¾ in.), one of a pair, decorated with wreaths of flowers on a white ground. Mark, the letter I, for 1761. Victoria and Albert Museum; Jones collection. | (To face [p. 296.]) |
| [xxxviii.] | Sèvres porcelain. Écuelle and saucer (diam. 5 in. and 7½ in.). Turquoise ground; panels with pastoral scenes. Mark, the letter Q for 1768, and ch. for the painter Chabry. Victoria and Albert Museum; Jones collection. | (To face [p. 298.]) |
| [xxxix.] | Sèvres porcelain. Sucrier, saucer and caddy from Cabaret (H. 4 in., 4¾ in., and 3 in.). Rose carné ground; flowers, etc., painted on white reserves. Mark, the letter H for 1760, and an anchor for the painter Buteux père. Victoria and Albert Museum; Jones collection. | (To face [p. 300.]) |
| [xl.] | Sèvres porcelain. Covered cup (H. 3¾ in.) and saucer (diam. 5 in.). Jewelled decoration on white ground. Studs of opaque white and turquoise and transparent ruby, connected by foliage of transparent green lined by gold. 1780-86. No mark. Currie collection. | (To face [p. 302.]) |
| [xli.] | (1) and (2) Venetian porcelain. Tall cup (H. 4⅜ in.) and saucer (diam. 5⅛ in.). Birds and vines in blue under glaze with slight gilding. Mark, Vena on cup, the same in script on saucer. Probably the work of the Vezzi family
(1719-40). Franks collection (Bethnal Green).
(3) Meissen porcelain. Pot-pourri with cover (H. 5½ in.). Fluted sides, flowers in high relief enamelled in colours. Mark, crossed swords in blue. Circa 1750. From the Strawberry Hill collection. Franks collection (Bethnal Green). (4) Frankenthal porcelain. Ewer and cover (H. 6⅝ in.). Painted in lilac camaïeu with landscape (signed—Magnus pi.) Gilt borders. 1761-78. Mark, C. T. under crown in blue. Franks collection (Bethnal Green). | (To face [p. 316.]) |
| [xlii.] | (1) Capo di Monte porcelain. Scent bottle (H. 3⅞ in.). Child in swaddling-clothes of blue and lilac. Circa 1750. Victoria and Albert Museum.
(2) Capo di Monte porcelain. Siren (H. 2⅝ in.), plain white, made for stand of vessel. Circa 1750. From the Bandinel collection. Victoria and Albert Museum. (3) Capo di Monte porcelain. Triton (H. 2⅞ in.). Plaque in low relief, made for application. Circa 1750. Victoria and Albert Museum. (4) Doccia porcelain. Cup with cover (H. 4⅜ in.). Plain white, vine branches in relief. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 320.]) |
| [xliii.] | Chelsea porcelain. Saucer (diam. 4½ in.), sugar-basin (H. 4 in.), and cream-jug (H. 2¾ in.), forming part of an extensive tea equipage. Claret ground with rich gilding; pastoral figures in reserve panels. Circa 1760. Victoria and Albert Museum; Thomson bequest. | (To face [p. 340.]) |
| [xliv.] | Chelsea porcelain. Two figures of minuet dancers (H. 11½ in. and 10¾ in.). Enamelled with winy-red, pale opaque turquoise, and a little green and iron-red—the lady’s stays lavender. These figures seem to have been suggested by the principal dancers in Watteau’s Fête Champêtre now at Edinburgh (engraved by Laurent Carrs, 1734, as Fêtes Venitiennes). Circa 1760. Victoria and Albert Museum; Schreiber collection. | (To face [p. 342.]) |
| [xlv.] | (1) Chelsea porcelain. Plate (diam. 8 in.) with wavy edge. Enamelled with shades of iron-red and green, with blue under glaze and gilding, in imitation of brocaded Imari ware. 1750-60. Victoria and Albert Museum.
(2) Bow porcelain. Octagonal plate (diam. 9 in.). In centre, two fighting cocks, in the Kakiyemon style; the wreaths of flowers suggested rather by Dresden. Iron-red, claret, and an opaque, poor blue enamel, laid on thickly, with gilding. Circa 1760. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 346.]) |
| [xlvi.] | Worcester porcelain. Tea-poy (H. 6½ in.), sugar-basin (H. 4¾ in.), and milk-jug (H. 5 in.) from a tea equipage. Trellis design. Circa 1780. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 362.]) |
| [xlvii.] | Water-Colour Drawing (17 in. by 18½ in.), by Thomas Baxter, junior; signed and dated 1810. The studio of Thomas Baxter, senior, 1 Gough Square. Porcelain painters at work. A price-list of Coalport white china is seen on the wall. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 366.]) |
| [xlviii.] | (1) Plymouth porcelain. Market-woman with flower-basket (H. 10 in.). Plain white, with lines of dirty brown in folds of drapery and stand. Circa 1770. Victoria and Albert Museum; Schreiber collection.
(2) Bristol porcelain. Female figure, ‘Autumn’ (H. 10 in.). Belt with signs of zodiac. Enamels—green, lilac, iron-red, and yellowish-green, with gilding. Circa 1775. Victoria and Albert Museum; Schreiber collection. | (To face [p. 380.]) |
| [xlix.] | (1) Bristol biscuit-ware. Medallion (max. diam. of plaque, 6 in.) with head of Washington in centre, from a contemporary medal (‘General of the Continental Armies’). Circa 1778. British Museum.
(2) Bristol porcelain. Ink-stand (H. 7½ in.), in plain white ware, supported by three griffins. Victoria and Albert Museum. | (To face [p. 382.]) |