[279] For the shape of the ju-i head, see vol. i., p. [227].
[280] “Flaming silver candle lighting up rosy beauty,” a Ch’êng Hua design (see p. [25]) but often found in K’ang Hsi porcelain, which usually has, by the way, the Ch’êng Hua mark to keep up the associations.
[281] For further notes on design, see chap. xvii.
[282] There is a small collection of these porcelains salved from the sea and presented to the British Museum by H. Adams in 1853; but there is no evidence to show which, if any, were on board the Haarlem.
[283] This design was copied on early Worcester blue and white porcelain.
[284] In spite of Bushell’s translation of a Ming passage which would lead one to think otherwise; see p. [40].
[286] There are frequent allusions to the European trade in the letters of Père d’Entrecolles. In the first letter (Bushell, T’ao shuo, p. 191) a reference is made among moulded porcelains to “celles qui sont d’une figure bisarre, comme les animaux, les grotesques, les Idoles, les bustes que les Europeans ordonnent.” On p. 193: “Pour ce qui est des couleurs de la porcelaine, il y en a de toutes les sortes. On n’en voit gueres en Europe que de celle qui est d’un bleu vif sur un fond blanc. Je crois pourtant que nos Marchands y en ont apporté d’autres.” On p. 202, to explain the high price of the Chinese porcelain in Europe, we are told that for the porcelain for Europe new models, often very strange and difficult to manufacture, are constantly demanded, and as the porcelain was rejected for the smallest defect, these pieces were left on the potter’s hands, and, being un-Chinese in taste, were quite unsaleable. Naturally the potter demanded a high price for the successful pieces to cover his loss on the rejected.
On the other hand, we are told (p. [204]) that the mandarins, recognising the inventive genius of the Europeans, sometimes asked him (d’Entrecolles) to procure new and curious designs, in order that they might have novelties to offer to the Emperor. But his converts entreated him not to get these designs, which were often very difficult to execute and led to all manner of ill-treatment of the unfortunate workmen.
On the same page we are told that the European merchants ordered large plaques for inlaying in furniture, but that the potters found it impossible to make any plaque larger than about a foot square. In the second letter (section x.), however, we learn that “this year (1722) they had accepted orders for designs which had hitherto been considered impossible, viz. for urns (urnes) 3 feet and more high, with a cover which rose in pyramidal form to an additional foot. They were made in three pieces, so skilfully joined that the seams were not visible, and out of twenty-five made only eight had been successful. These objects were ordered by the Canton merchants, who deal with the Europeans; for in China people are not interested in porcelain which entails such great cost.”