Fig. 328.—Porcelain Vase.
Painted in enamel colours.
The Père d’Entrecolles tells us the manner of painting vases in China, and how the different parts of a landscape on one vase were intrusted to various hands according to their ability to paint special objects mechanically. He says: “One is employed solely to form the coloured circle which is seen round the border of the ware, a second traces the flowers in outline, which a third fills in with colour; another excels only in painting the water and the mountains, while the next is only competent to portray birds or animals.”
Fig. 329.—Porcelain Ewer.
Painted in enamel colours, and mounted with Florentine copper gilt.
17th century.
A sort of very hard stoneware, covered with a thick glaze, may be the most ancient description seen at the present day. The surface is covered with a semi-opaque glaze which is called céladon by the French, and which varies in colour from a russet grey to a sea green. The glaze of this ware is frequently seen crackled all over in irregular lines, which is termed in England crackle. This crackle china is the most esteemed of Oriental porcelain, although it arises from a defective cause.
Fig. 330.—Bottle.
Powder blue porcelain.
Ming dynasty.
Fig. 331.—Jar.
Painted with plum blossoms.
Ming dynasty.