CERAMIC ART IN CHINA. 411 



MISCELLANEOrS (n)LLECTIOX OF SXUFF-BOTTl.ES. 



376. Of white porcelain and flat, circular in shape, formed by two lotus leaves, one of 



deep red trrading into light green at center, the other of deep green grading 

 into pink at center, with butterfly settled upon each. Admirably moulded. 

 No mark. 



377. Of white porcelain and ovate in shape, decorated on one side with a Chinese 



rebus, three shrimps grasping reeds, which reads San-hsia mi-Ch'uan-lu. If 

 the third character be omitted, the phrase — by the substitution of characters 

 differently written, but having the same pronunciation — means "three gen- 

 erations have gained jiositions in the first class at the highest literary exami- 

 nations." On the opposite side, eighteen crabs, a similar rebus, meaning "at 

 eighteen gained second place at the highest literary examination." Mark 

 Tuo-kuamg- nien-cJiih, "Made in reign of Taokuang." 



378. Of white porcelain, in shape of a young girl, dressed in a jacket of blue damask 



and trousers of red and gold brocade. She has the contracted feet of the 

 Chinese women. Body hollow, stopper formed bj' one foot, which is remov- 

 able from trousers. No mark. 



379. Of white porcelain, in shape of a boy, intended to represent T'ung Fang-so (see 



No. 27 ) , dressed in a robe of red and gold brocade open to skin from neck 

 to waist, green undergarments, and a summer season official hat, which is 

 removable and forms stopper. No mark. 



380. Of white Chienlung (1736-1795) porcelain and flat ovate form. The cream- 



yellow paste is engraved to represent waves, on which a boat containing two 

 of the Eight Immortals (one male and one female, see No. 172) is being 

 rowed among lotus flowers. Moulded in high relief and painted in enamel 

 colors. Fine specimen. Mark Ta-ch^ing chien-lnng-nien-chih. 



381. Of white porcelain and flat ovate shape. Decorated in colors with a rebus on 



either side — a saddled elephant })earing a jar-shaped houdah, reading in 

 Chinese Hsiang pel t'ai p^hig, which also means "Peace rules in the north," 

 and a tub full of green growing wheat, reading ; f'ling ta ch^ing, "the whole 

 Empire (oAvns) the Great Pure dynasty." Mark Chien-an-ga-r Mh, "Made 

 for Chien An-ya," an unidentified name. 



382. ( )f white Chienkmg ( 1736 to 1795) porcelain and of flat circular shape, decorated 



with mythological personages painted in colors. Mark as on No. 380. 



383. Of white Chienlung porcelain and of small potiche shape, decorated with plum 



trees of the pink and white blossom varieties, perched on which and on 

 ground are one hundred magpies, symbolizing "a hundred, that is, every 

 kind of happiness," the magpie, from its merry-sounding chatter, being 

 termed "the bird of happiness." Mark as on No. 380. 



The magpie is especially dear to the present occupants of the throne of 

 China from the part it played in the divine origin of their first ances- 

 tor. The Chinese chronicle runs as follows: Immediately east of 

 the pumice peaks of the Ch'ang-pai-shan (Long "White Mountain) 

 is a high mountain called Bukuli, at the foot of which is the small 

 lake or pool Buhuli. After bathing one day in this pool, the maiden 

 Li Fokolun found on the skirt of her raiment, placed there by a 

 magpie, a fruit which she ate, and which caused her to give birth to 

 a boy of an appearance different from ordinary people, whence she 

 called him Yon lieaven-hom to restore order to the disturbed nations. 

 His surname she called Aisin-(Tior(), his name Bukuli-yung-shun. 

 She disappeared, and he, embarking in a small boat, floated with the 

 river stream. In the neighborhood of a place where peoples of three 

 surnames were at war, he disembarked, and was breaking off willow 

 branches, \\hen one of the warriors, coming to draw water, saw him. 



