GREEN FAMILY—"FAMILLE VERTE."
This example shows how faithfully the Chinese could utilise the scenes of their daily life for illustration. In this respect it is well worthy of careful study. It belongs to the Kang-he period.
A large beaker-shaped Vase of the highest quality "famille verte," finely drawn, and decorated with subjects illustrating the rice industry. Near the base is the figure of a man ploughing the rice field, with a water buffalo, in aubergine and yellow. Just above, inside a building, which is of aubergine and green, is a man sorting the rice. Again, above this, on the left, are two girls, one in a yellow robe, the other in blue, preparing the twine necessary for laying out the field. On the other side are children and women in green, yellow, and blue robes, gathering the rice; whilst underneath these are two men showing the process of weighing. In the centre, above this, are three other figures, one carrying the rice in a tray, and the others showing the process of winnowing. The remainder of the body of the vase has finely drawn trees with flowering branches thickly enamelled, whilst at the top is a broad diaper-pattern band with yellow flowers on a green ground; this band has at top and bottom a narrow margin of aubergine, and is intersected with four small reserves containing utensils in green, yellow, aubergine, and black, on a white ground. The neck is similarly enamelled, and shows on one side men sowing the rice, and on the other a lady is reclining, whilst in front of her are two attendants.
GREEN FAMILY—"FAMILLE VERTE."
Large hexagonal Arrow Stand.
Although the Chinese think very highly of a life free from worldly turmoil, yet they were warriors too. Here we have a fine example of a porcelain arrow stand, decorated with raised ornament, with pierced ornament, and with fine enamel colouring. We note the peach branch—emblem of marriage and long life—to which magic virtues were attributed. Possibly this emblem indicated the reward of the warrior, when his work as a soldier was finished. The presence of the immortals, again, was the expression of the universal desire for long life which has always existed in China, and the immortals, who had eaten the peach—the fruit of immortality—represent this ever-to-be-coveted object. Referring to the illustration, the arrow stand is decorated in high relief, with peaches on branches in aubergine, rouge de fer, green, and yellow, on a white ground. At the top is a broad band richly enamelled in "famille verte" colours with flowers and foliage on a stippled ground bordered with the key design in black on bright green. Separating a band of Joo-e-heads, enamelled in yellow, blue, green, and black, is a narrow margin in plain apple-green. At the base are six reclining figures of immortals in "famille verte" colours, whilst above these is a band similar to that at the top. This is supported on a hexagonal base richly enamelled with flowers in "famille verte" colours. Period, Kang-he.
GREEN FAMILY—"FAMILLE VERTE."
The Vase given as an illustration belongs to the "famille verte" class, and deserves careful attention from the fact that it is useful to be able to read off the points in any given piece. Take the shape first. It is a gourd-shaped bottle with spreading mouth. On it are seen three circular panels, called also reserves or compartments. The bottom one, as may be easily seen, contains a basket of flowers with a ribbon on the top. The one on the left is filled with utensils—a word used for this kind of decoration. Note the vases with flowers, the books bound with a filet and the leaf symbol. The other round panel shows a bird on a branch of the peony in flower. Butterflies, &c., are also shown.