THE CERAMIC ART IN CHINA. 473 



93d. Vase of pure white Chieulung porcelain of lancelle shape. la tumbling waves of 

 brilliant blue (shaded) with light foam crests is a four-clawed dragon of 

 resplendent white beautifully molded in high relief, covered with a very 

 thick, transparent vitreous glaze. A beautiful and very effective ornament. 

 No mark. Height, 14f inches ; diameter, 7f inches. 



237. Snuff-bottle of pure white Chienluug porcelain, with stopper to match. Circular in 



shape, very thin and iiat. Upon a pale lemon-yellow ground are two round 

 scalloped gourds upon trailing stems, bearing five-petal flowers, some 

 white, some pink, and leaves of various shades of green delicately shaded, 

 with a butterfly on either side below with outspread wings, and painted in 

 delicate tones and with considerable skill. Mark Chien-hmg-nien-chih : 

 "Made in reign of Chienlung." 



238. Vase of white Chieulung porcelain, pear-shaped with low, narrow everted neck. 



On a white ground are four Imperial five-clawed dragons (see No. 4), well 

 drawn and shaded in carmine amid crysanthemums and formal lotus (the 

 so-called western lotus) with trailing scroll-like foliage, all in deep blue, 

 confined at foot and at top by a deep band of foliated panel-pattern in blue, 

 with small ornament in magenta in center. Above this band at top and ex- 

 tending to foot of neck is a band of longevity fungus in magenta with blue 

 scroll leaves. Round the neck a circlet of banana leaves pointing upward. 

 Mark as on No. 186. Height, 14 inches. 



239. Smiff-bottle of pure white Chienlung porcelain, small, of circular shape, somewhat 



flattened, with a handle formed by a grotesque lion's head holding a ring in 

 its mouth molded in relief on the convexity of either side, colored ver- 

 milion and picked out with gold. On the body are stalks of pink and white 

 peonies, pink rose, white magnolia yulan and red plum blossom springing 

 from rockery, very beautifully painted under a brilliant transparent glaze. 

 Mark as on No. 186. Height, 1| inches. 



240. 241. Bowls (a pair) of pure white Chienlung porcelain, with everted brim. Deco- 



rated inside at bottom with octagonal ornament and, alternately, formal 

 flowers and butterflies rising from the eight sides of the ornament ; above and 

 round the sides, four gourd-shaped vases delicately ornamented with geo- 

 metrical and scroll designs and bats and chrysanthemums, suspended 

 over them being elaborate hexagonal canopies with long streamers depend- 

 ent from the six angles. Outside are four medallions of pure white, inclosed 

 by gold band and containing a group of table articles, of which the chief is 

 a vase containing a branch of plum or other blossom, with a small delicately 

 ornamented jar covered with canopy and streamers depending fi-om the 

 branch; the remaining articles being dishes of fruit, a water- holder, incense- 

 burner, etc., delicately painted. Between the medallions a small conven- 

 tional lotus flower below, and a larger flower of same above, with scroll-like 

 foliage on a deep magenta ground, which is covered outside the flowers and 

 leaves with delicate foliate ornamentation engraved in the paste. Earliest 

 specimens o'f the so-called " medallion bowls " which a few years ago brought 

 such high prices in England. Mark as on No. 186. Height, 2^ inches; di- 

 ameter, 5| inches. 



242. Dish of white porcelain, of low, slightly ovate shape, formed by a lotus leaf 



{Nelumbium speolosmn) curling up at edges, veining incised on inside and in 

 relief on outside; a flower and seed-pod ascend on outside from beneath leaf 

 to rest on its edge, while a lizard crawls from inside having its body on the 

 leaf-edge and head raised aloft. Covered throughout with fine "peacock" 

 green glaze nncrackled. No mark. Diameter, 8^ and 9| inches. 



243. Snuf-hottle of pure white Chienlung porcelain, of flattened ovate shape ter- 



minating in long, slender neck. On one side is Yang Kuei-fei, and on the 

 other Hsi Shih clad in rich embroidered robes playing on the guitar, painted 

 with great delicacy above brilliant glaze. No mark. 



