CERAMIC ART TN CHINA. 405 



o04-3i;>. Wliu' cnpx (10) of the thin, pure, white K'iuighsi (lHti2 to 1722) itonvlain, 

 termed Co-f'rii "bodiless," with wide, open, everted mouth. Each is deco- 

 rated with a single spray either of roses, red phmi bh)ssom, pomegranate, 

 peaoh, Y>eony (Pseoiiia montan) , chrysanthemums, or oi yiian yang (seeNo. 101) 

 swimming among lotus flowers painted in enamel colors, the 1)ranches being 

 outlined in blue under glaze. On each is a short poem extolling the beauty 

 of the flower it accom})anies. Mark on foot Ta-rh^inr;-k^(ni(j-}ii<i-7iii'u-rhilt, 

 "Made in the K'anghsi period of the Great Pure dynasty." Delicate speci- 

 mens. Height, If inches; diameter, 2o inches. 



.314. Water holder, for nsoon student's table when prejiaring ink, of the pure white 

 Yungcheng porcelain, termed ^'o-<'o^, "bodiless." In the form of a lotus 

 leaf with crinkled edge, of which one-half (that forming the receptacle for 

 water) turns up at edges, forming a small basin, which is half covered by the 

 remainder of the leaf, arching over from the stalk. In the recess of the bent 

 leaf are a pink, a beetle, and a fly, of tiny dimensions, painted with extreme 

 delicacy and care. The toji of the stalk and veining of the leaf are incised 

 in the paste, and, owing to the thinness of the latter, appear in relief under- 

 neath. A most beautiful specimen. Height, 1 inch; length, 'i\ inches. 



31o-.';i8. Wine cups (i) of thin, white Yungcheng (1723 to 1735) f'o-t'ai or "bodiless" 

 porcelain, of slender shape, with everted brim. Decoratetl with ideal land- 

 scapes exquisitely drawn and shaded in sepia under glaze. Mark, 7a-ch 'itig- 

 yung-cMng-nien-chih, "Made in the Yungcheng period of the Great Pure 

 dynasty." Height, If inches; diameter, 2\ inches. 



319,320. Plates (a pair) of thin, white Chienlung (1736 to 1795) Vo-t'<il or "bodiless" 

 porcelain. Covered over with white enamel, in middle of plate two ju-i 

 crossed (see No. 81), with the figure of the two Primordial Essences (see No. 

 40) in the center, and around the rim the eight Buddhistic emblems (see 

 No. 54), all faintly engraved in the paste. No mark. Excei)tionally fine 

 specimens. Diameter, 7^ inches. 



321,322. Rke-houis (a pair) of white Chienlung t'o-t'ai or "bodiless" porcelain. Cov- 

 ered with white enamel over scroll-like sprays of conventional lotus flowers 

 {hsi-fang-lien-hua or lotus of the west) and leaves engraved in the paste inside 

 and out, but in such manner that the two patterns do not coincide in their 

 outlines, and that, if bowl be regarded from inside or from outside, the pat- 

 tern on the side looked at is alone visible. Mark Ta-ch'mg-chien-lung-nien- 

 chili, "Made in the Chienlung period of the first Great Pure <lynasty," 

 engraved in the paste under foot. Height, 2| inches; diameter, 5^ inches. 



SPECIAL GROUP OF VITREOUS WARE AND OU PORCELAIN .MADE, WITH IT AS MODEL, TO 

 SECURE A LIKE TRANSPARENCY OF COLOU WITH INCREASED BRILLIANCY OF GROUND. 



323. Snuff-bottle (small) of dull, opaque, white vitreous ware, (jf flat elongated jJ0//V7/e 



shape, decorated with red lotus flowers and green leaves. Mark Ta-ch'ing- 

 nien-chih, "Made during the (ireat Puredynasty," the distinctive mark of the 

 earlier productions of Ku Yi'ieh-lisiian. (See page 347.) This ware is so 

 highly esteemed Ijy tiie Chinese that it sells for higher prices than would 

 similar articles of jade. Height, 2i indies. 



324. Water-holder (small) of dull, opaque, white Ku Yiieh-hsiian vitreous ware of 



cylindrical shape. Decorated with a landscape very beautifully jiainted in 

 natural colors, representing a young shei)herd clad in Chinese dress, but 

 whose features are unmistakably Eunjpean, tending a ram and two ewes on 

 a grassy sward confined by lofty rocks, among which grow herbs and flower- 

 ing trees. The painting is characterized by all the delicacy of touch of a 

 miniature. Mark in form of a seal engraved in foot and filled with blue 

 enamel, Lhien-bing-nien-ehih, "Made in the Chienlung (1736 to 1795) period." 



