478 REPOKT or NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



280. Vase of white Chieuluug porcelain, iu shape of an iuverted bulb, with small 

 low neck covered with blue, red, and white flambe. Predominating color is 

 red, but mottled with purple tints with blue and white appearing in places, 

 under deep vitreous glaze pitted like orange-peel. No mark. Height, 8 

 inches. 



261-284. Screen panels of white Chienlung porcelain. Two central panels, each 23f 

 inches high by 9^ inches broad, are flanked on either side by a panel of same 

 height and 5-^ inches broad. On these is depicted, beautifully painted, Lao 

 Tze, with lofty forehead and flowing white beard, in the mountain home of 

 the Immortals, receiving two children riding the stag of longevity,with other 

 children playing around, and genii coming to pay homage to the great 

 sage, some on foot descending the mountains, some approaching on clouds, 

 with Hsi Wang Mu herself preceded by her attendant birds (see No. 28) 

 Around are twelve panels 3^ inches wide and in length some 9^ inches and 

 some llf inches, covered with formal lotus flowers and conventional scroll- 

 like foliage, all in natural colors. A very beautiful piece of furniture, the 

 frame being carved black wood. 



285. Fish-hoivl of thick w^hite Chienlung porcelain, bulging gently from base to wide 



open mouth. Among thick fleecy clouds of souffl6 blue-black is a very boldly 

 drawn flying princely four-clawed dragon with row of large spines running 

 along back, body of slightly yellow tinge, the scales beneath belly, horiis and 

 nose white. No mark. Height, 8^ inches ; diameter, lOf inches. 



286. Plate of enamel upoji copper base ; decorated with a painting of Wang Chili 



watching two genii engaged in game of chess (see No. 18) under tree in valley 

 between rising hills ; confined above and below by baud of foliated scroll pat- 

 tern in black, picked out with gold on a light-blue ground ; outside around 

 rim a foliated scroll pattern in blue on white ground. Mark, afeng hwang (see 

 No. 4). Diameter, 8f inches. 



287. Plate of enamel upon copper base ; decorated with a painting of the famous poet 



Li T'ai-po, and companion in open country among rocks and trees engaged 

 in the enjoyment of wine, of which, to judge by the size of the blue jar iu 

 background, they have a plentiful supply; outside decoration and mark same 

 as on last. Both admirably painted. Diameter, 8f inches. 



Li T'ai-po (A. D. 699 to 762) is the most famous among the poets of China, 

 and scarcely less noted for his love of wine. The curiosity of the 

 Emperor Hsiian Tsung of the Sung dynasty having been aroused 

 by the accounts made to him of the poet's genius, Li T'ai-po was 

 summoned to an interview in the palace,where he was received with 

 exaggerated honors. The Emperor himself handed the dishes, his 

 favorite and haughty concubine was required to rub the ink for his 

 use, and the chief eunuch and privy counsellor, Kao Li-Ss'u, had to 

 divest him of his boots when overcome bj^ wiise. The Emperor's fav- 

 orite, smarting under the indignity to which she thought herself sub- 

 jected in his honor, barred the door to his official employment, and 

 Li T'ai-po led " for the remainder of his life a wandering existence, 

 celebrating in continual flights of verse the praises of bacchanalian 

 enjoyment and of the beauties of nature in the various localities he 

 visited." (Mayers.) 



288. Tea-pot and cover of earthenware from the Ni-hsiug district in Kiangsu j^rovince. 



Of globular shape much flattened. Round the lower portion are pine and 

 plum trees very delicately molded in bold crisp relief; above, separated by 

 a band of Grecian pattern incised in the paste, in single row of "old seal" 

 characters in relief, from which it appears that the tea-pot was made at the 

 special order of the Emperor Chienlung. On the cover is a scroll pattern, 

 iu relief, confined on either side by a band of Grecian pattern, and round 

 the knob iu the center is another band of same. A very beautiful specimen 

 of this ware. Height, 2| inches; diameter, A^ inches. 



