THE CERAMIC ART IN CHINA. 415 



From this period also are supposed to date many of the large vases 

 which form so prominent a feature in the European collections, dec- 

 orated with historical scenes, in the coloring of which green plays so 

 large a part, and which have in consequence been termed by French 

 writers "la famille verte." They are really, however, more modern. 

 "The fiuest," as Dr. Bushell truly remarks, "belong to the reign of 

 K'anghsi, so that one of a pair is often found with a Ming mark be- 

 neath, the other with a censer, flower, or other emblem (of the K'anghsi 

 period"!; yet some connoisseurs pride themselves on being able to dis- 

 tinguish the genuine Ming in this class from the false, confessing, 

 however, that it is a difficult matter.* 



This period is also noted for its egg-shell porcelain. It was not, 

 however, invented at this time, but, as we have already shown, first 

 manufactured during the Yunglo period. The four small plates of this 

 ware (Ii^os. 296 to 299) are worthy of special note, not only for their 

 extreme thinness and transparency, but for the very unusual style of 

 their decoration — landscapes in enamel colors above the glaze. 



From 1488 to 1505. 



During the succeeding period, Huagchih, 1488 to 1505, while enamel 

 colors were still used, a very pale yellow glaze of the color of a newly 

 husked chestnut was the tint most highly prized, the two kinds of deco- 

 ration being at times combined. If the uniform yellow glaze was em- 

 ployed, ornamentation would be at times engraved in the paste or 

 moulded in relief beneath it. So little is said regarding the ware of 

 this period by Chinese authors, that it is worth while recording the 

 descriptions of two choice specimens given by Hsiang Tzii ching — 

 (1) a wine pot " moulded in the form of a gourd contracted in the mid- 

 dle, the brown stalk forming the handle of the cover, a winding branch 

 the tapering handle, from which spring green tendrils and leaves 

 and a miniature gourd, all worked in relief in the yellow body, a second 

 miniature gourd being fashioned into the spout. Light yellow was the 

 color most highly valued in this reign, but enamelling in color was also 

 employed, as in this piece, which reminds one of the porcelain of the 

 reigu of Ch'enghua ; " (2) a teacup " in the form of a hibiscus flower, 

 covered outside with a delicate yellow glaze imitating the natural tint 

 of the flower ; white inside. I have seen many specimens of Hungchih 

 porcelain, but nothing to surpass these little cups." * 



From 1506 to 1521. 



During the Chengte i>eriod (1506 to 1521), so far as the meagre de- 

 tails chronicled allow us to judge, while decoration in enamel colors 

 continued and the successful endeavors of the governor of Yiinnan to 

 obtain further supplies of Mohammedan blue caused attention to be 



*Baeliell : Op, oit, p. 99. t lUd., Nos. 7, 42, 46, 66, 



