Page:Brinkley - China - Volume 1.djvu/253

facture. The decorative design is usually dragons. They figure upon almost all choice porcelains of the Ming dynasty, especially on those destined for imperial use. Similar ware was produced with success down to the close of the eighteenth century.

Yellow designs with blue environment have already been noted as a Ming invention. Later epochs produced few specimens of this kind. Much commoner are pieces having mazarin blue grounds with rich enamelled decoration of the Rose Family type. On these the Chinese potter expended much care and was justified by the result. Ware of this nature scarcely deserves to be classed separately from that having enamelled decoration on a soufflé blue ground, though the two differ more in reality than in description. Fine pieces of mazarin blue with enamel decoration were produced as late as the Chia-tsing era (1796–1821) or even during the early years of Taou-kwang's reign (1821–1851). It may be taken as a rule, however, that the younger the specimen the coarser its pâte and the less brilliant its glaze and colour.

Green was seldom chosen by Chinese potters as a ground for enamel decoration. Delicate céladon glazes from the Kang-hsi or Chien-lung factories, have brilliant red dragons or lizards coiled round the vase. These are rare, and deservedly prized. Belonging to the same era, but more common, are céladons having red peaches or pomegranates suspended in the glaze. Others again, not the least beautiful of the three, show flecks or spots of golden brown floating in their velvet-like glaze. Entirely distinct from this unique céladon colour is thin grass-green with metallic iridescence. This is found sometimes as a body-colour