THE CERAMIC ART IN CHINA, 479 



SPECIAL GROUP OF KOe-SHELL POKCELAIN. 



289-294. Wine-cups (6) of pure white Yuaglo (1403 to 1424) porcelaiu of the variety 

 tenued«'o-i'ai," bodiless," or "egg-shell," with broad, open mouth. Round the 

 sides is a delicate ornamentation of flowers and leaves faintly engraved in 

 paste under a white enamel. On foot the mark, Yung-Io-nien-chih, in seal 

 character — "Made during the Yung period"— engraved in the paste. 

 Uuiquespecimensat the present time. (See page 412.) Height, If inches; di- 

 ameter, .3| inches. 



295. Boivl of pure white Yunglo porcelain, called t'o t'ai, or " egg-shell," or, perhaps, 

 h'an t'o-t'ai, "semi-bodiless," though a bowl of this size would have little 

 practical utility were it of less substance. Covered with white enamel over 

 imperial five-clawed dragons (see No. 4) among clouds faintly engraved in the 

 paste. Mark same as on last. The ornamentation on this and the six last 

 specimens becomes more distinct when the articles are filled with liquid. 

 Heighth, 2f inches ; diameter, 8 inches. 



296-299. Plates (4), small, flat, of the very thin white Cli'enghua(14G5 to 1487) porce- 

 lain, termed Po-t'ai, or bodiless. Decorated with landscapes I'epresenting 

 pavilions with beetling rocks behind on the bank of a lake or river, crossed 

 by row-boats having mat awnings, and a lofty-peaked mountain in the dim 

 haze of distance, painted in brilliant enamel colors above glaze. On brim, 

 outside, are — three on each plate — sprays of roses, pinks, chrysanthemums, 

 iris, lotus, and cceleus, also in brilliant enamel glaze. On foot, faintly en- 

 graved in paste, mark Ch'eng-hua nien-chih, "Made during the Ch'enghua 

 period." Very rare specimens. Diameter, 4^ inches. 



300-303.' fFf/tecH^s (4), of the very thin, pure white Ch'enghua porcelain, termed 

 t'o-t'ai, " bodiless," or egg-shell. Small, tall, and slender, with everted rim. 

 On each is a miniature group of the Seven Worthies of the Bamboo grove 

 (v. No. 53) with an attendant bringing a jar of wine and flowers. The por- 

 celain is so thin that the design, with all the details of color, can be distinctly 

 perceived from the inside. Mark in blue characters under glaze Ta-ming- 

 cli'eng-hua-nien-chih, "Made during the Ch'enghua period of the Great Ming 

 dynasty." Admirable specimens of the highly prized wine-cups of this pe- 

 riod, which even in the sixteenth century brought extraordinary prices. (See 

 preceding pages.) Height, 1| inches; diameter, 2 inches. 



304-313. Wine-cups (10) of the thin, pure, white K'anghsi (1662 to 1722) porcelain, 

 termed t'o-t'ai "bodiless," with wide, open, everted mouth. Each is deco- 

 rated with a single spray each of roses, red plum blossom, pomegranate, peach, 

 Pcvonia moutan, chrysanthemums, oi of yiian gang (see No. 101) swimming 

 among lotus flowers painted in enamel colors, the branches being outlined 

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

 flower it accompanies. Mark on foot Ta-ch'ing-¥ang-hsi-nien-chih, " Made in 

 the K'anghsi jjeriod of the Great Pure dynasty." Delicate specimens. 

 Height, If; diameter, 2| inches. 



314. Water-holder, for nse on student's table when preparing ink, of the pure white 

 Yungcheng porcelain, termed t'o-t'ai, "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 top 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, 3^ inches. 



315-318. Wine-cups (4) of thin, white Yungcheng (1723 to 1735) t'o-t'ai or " bodiless" 

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



