| "Made at the Tseu-shun Hall," of beautiful jade. | "The Luh-i or waving bamboo Hall." | "Antique made at the Shun-tih, or cultivation of vertue Hall." |
| "Made at the Shun-tih, or cultivation Hall." | "Made at the Tsai-jun or brilliant colours Hall. | "Made at the I-yew, or advantage Hall." |
| "Made at the Ta-shu, or great tree Hall." | "Made at the Ki-yuh, or rare jade Hall." | "Made at the Lin-yuh, or abundant jade Hall." |
| "Imitations of antiques made at the King-lien Hall." | "A gem among precious vessels, of rare jade." | "A gem among precious vessels, of rare stone." |
XXIV
SYMBOLICAL
MARKS
AND
ORNAMENTS
CHAPTER XXIV
SYMBOLICAL MARKS AND ORNAMENTS
"Every picture tells its story" is true when applied to Oriental decoration where history and mythology furnish many of the designs, and almost every flower and colour has its own meaning. On the porcelain many of these devices are used either as marks or ornaments; sometimes they have ribbons or fillets entwined around them, and they vary considerably in style and shape. Those given are from Sir A. W. Franks's book, "The Catalogue of the Franks' Collection of Oriental Porcelain and Pottery," exhibited at the Bethnal Green Museum.
The symbols set out are found on blue and white porcelain as well as on pieces of "famille verte," powdered blue, and old specimens decorated with coloured enamels generally of a very good quality.
A.
No. 1. The pearl, which as an ornament is frequently represented in the air with dragons.
No. 2. The conch shell, a well-known Buddhist emblem which signifies a prosperous journey.
No. 3. A musical instrument. According to Mr. Gulland, who searched Mr. Salting's Collection at the Museum, South Kensington, 18 pieces, mostly blue and white, have this mark.