“In the Chia Ching and Lung Ch’ing periods there lived a man who was clever at making porcelain (t’ao). He was famed for imitations of the wares in the traditional style and make of the Hsüan Tê and Ch’êng Hua periods, and in his time he enjoyed the highest reputation. The name given to his wares was Mr. Ts’ui’s porcelain (ts’ui kung yao tz’ŭ), and they were eagerly sought in all parts of the empire. As for the shape of his cups (ch’ien), when compared with the Hsüan and Ch’êng specimens[141] they differed in size but displayed the same skill and perfection of design. In the blue and polychrome wares his colours were all like the originals. His were, in fact, the cream of the porcelains made in the private factories (min t’ao).”
PLATE 74
Two Bowls in the British Museum with gilt designs on a monochrome ground. Probably Chia Ching period (1522–1566)
Fig. 1 with lotus scroll with etched details on a ground of iron red (fan hung) outside. Inside is figure of a man holding a branch of cassia, a symbol of literary success, painted in underglaze blue. Mark in blue, tan kuei (red cassia.) Diameter 4½ inches.
Fig. 2 with similar design on ground of emerald green enamel. Mark in blue in the form of a coin or cash with the characters ch’ang ming fu kuei (long life, riches and honours!). Diameter 4¾ inches.
It is interesting to note that the imitation of the early Ming porcelains began as soon as this, and we may infer from the usual Chinese procedure that the marks of the Hsüan Tê and Ch’êng Hua periods were duly affixed to these clever copies.