320 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1900. 



STTN(; DYNASTY, 960 TO 1259. 



The porcelain manufactured under this d3aiasty appears to have far 

 excelled in (luality and delicacy of workmanship all that preceded it, 

 the Ch'ai-yao alone perhaps excepted. The shapes and ornamental 

 decorations appear to have been modeled, as a rule, after ancient 

 bronzes, figured in illustrated catalogues of the most celebrated 

 specimens of such vessels (as the Po-ku-t'u), published during the 

 Hsiian-ho period, 1119 to 1125, and the K'ao-ku-t'u; and when not 

 modeled after such ancient designs, the vessel took the form of some 

 natural object, as a tree or flower or of some animal, real or imaginary. 

 In the former the pattern was engraved with a pointed st3'le in the 

 paste, and was broken here and there by lions' or dragons' heads in 

 bold relief, with an elaboration and wealth of ornament hitherto un- 

 dreamed of. That a remarkable degree of proficiency had by this time 

 been obtained in the ceramic art is evident from the descriptions pre- 

 served ))y Hsiang Tzii-ching of some specimens of Tingchou ware 

 seen by him. 



(1) A Bacrifirial jar in the form of an elephant from an ancient bronze design. 

 The l)0(ly forms the wine >eri8el, theupHfted trunk the spout, a narrow canopy arch- 

 injr over the saddle the handle, to which is attached a round cover ornamented with 

 geometrical and spiral scroll borders surmounted by a knot. The rope girths and 

 ornamental details engraved under a white glaze. 



(2) A branched pricket candlestick — a slender pillar on a solid foliated stand 

 curves at the top to end in a phwnix head, from the back of which hangs a ring chain, 

 which suspends the stem of a lotus, branching into three flowers to hold the candles, 

 which are shaded by a huge overhanging leaf. Ornamented with engraving under 

 a pure wriite glaze. 



(3) A jar which was of irregular quadrangular section, carved in relief after an 

 ancdent bronze design, with lobes on the body, a scroll border below, and a band of 

 ornament in the form of coiled dragons round the neck. Loop handles terminating 

 in horned heads and with rings hanging from them project from the neck. Covered 

 with glaze the color of rii)e grapes, transparent and of a perfect luster — a beautiful 

 vase to hold flowers for the table.' 



INTRODUCTIOX OF COLORED DECORATION. 



Prior to the Sung dynast}^ the external color of all porcelain appears 

 to have been solely determined by that of the glaze, and to have been 

 almost entirely monochrome. In a few instances vases Avere covered 

 with parti-colored glazes, which were apt to flow into one another in 

 the heat of the kiln, and so gave rise to the fortuitous productions 

 known as Yao-p'ien (the French Jlamhex)^ articles the decoration of 

 which "changed during the process of baking." The Sung porcelain 

 was essentially, 1 believe, of the same character, the coloring of the 

 article produced being determined only ])y the kind of glaze which 

 was spread over the paste or bi.scuit. 



^ S. W. Bushell, Chinese Porcelain before the Present Dynasty, Nos. 33, 80, 18. 



