480 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



scapes exquisitely drawn and shaded iu sepia uuder glaze. Mark Ta-i'hH7ig- 

 yung-cMng-iiien-chih, "Made in the Ynngcheng period of the Great Pure dy- 

 nasty." Height, If- inches; diameter, 2^ inches. 



319,320. Plales (a pair) of thin, white Chienlung (1736 to 1795) t'o-t'ai or "bodiless" 

 porcelain. Covered with white enamel over in middle of plate two jn-i 

 crossed (v. No. 81), with the figure of the two Primordial Essences (v. No. 40) 

 in the center, and around the rim the eight Buddhistic emblems (c. No. 54), 

 all faintly engraved in the paste. No mark. Exceptionally fine specimens. 

 Diameter, 7 J inches. 



321, 322. Rice-howls (a pair) of white Chienlung Vo-Va'i or " bodiless" porcelain. Cov- 

 ered with white enamel over scroll-like sprays of conventional lotus flowers 

 (Im-fang-hen-hua or lotus of the west) aud leaves engraved in the paste inside 

 and out, but in such manner that the two i»atterna do not coincide in their 

 ontliues, and that, if bowl be regarded from inside or from outside, the pat- 

 tern on the side looked at is alone visible. Mark Ta-ch'ivg-chien-lung-nien- 

 chih, "Made in the Chienlung period of the first Great Pure dynasty," en- 

 graved in the paste under foot. Height, 2f inches; diameter, 5f. 



SPECIAL GROUP OF VITREOUS WARE AND OF PORCELAIN MADE, WITH IT AS MODEL, TO 

 SECURE A LIKE TRANSPARENCY OF COLOR WITH INCREASED BRILLIANCY OF 

 GROUND. 



323. Snuff-bottle (small) of dnll, opaque, white vitreous ware, of flat elongated jjotic/ie 



shape, decorated with red lotus flowers and green leaves. Mark Ta-chHng- 

 nien-chih, " Made during the Great Pure dynasty," the distinctive mark of the 

 earlier productions of Ku Yiich-hsiian. (See page 423. ) This ware is so highly 

 esteemed by the Chinese that it sells for higher prices than would similar 

 articles of jade. Height, 2| inches. 



324. Water-holder (small) of dull, opaque, white Ku Ytich-hsiian vitreous ware of 



cylindrical shape. Decorated with a landscape very beautifully painted in 

 natural colors, representing a young shepherd clad in Chinese dress, but 

 whose features are unmistakably European, tending a ram and two ewes on 

 a grassy sward confined by lofty rocks, among which grow herbs and flower- 

 ing trees. The painting is characterized by all the delicacy of touch of a 

 miniature. Mark in form of a seal engraved in foot and filled with blue 

 enamel, Chien-lung-nieii-chiJt, "Made in the Chienlung (17,56 to 1795) period." 

 This and the next twelve specimens, i. e., down to No. 336, inclusive, were 

 made under the supervision of T'aug ying (see page 419). Height, 1| inches ; 

 diameter. If inches. 



325. Pencil-holder of same ware, of cylindrical shape. Decorated with a group of 



the Seven Worthies of the Bamboo Grove (v. No. 53) conversing together or 

 examining a large scroll bearing a landscape with large pine trees, on a green 

 sward edged with beetling rocks and flowering trees. An exquisitely drawn 

 pictnre. Mark as on last. Height, 2f inches ; diameter, 2f inches. 



326. Wine-cup (small) of same ware. Round the foot is a baud of delicate red scroll- 



work on a yellow ground, with a very narrow band above of white foliate 

 pattern on black ground. This and a broader foliate pattern at rim of the 

 dull white color of the glass carefully shaded with straw-yellow upon a very 

 pale greenground, confine the body of the cup, on which a yellow scroll-work 

 forms two landscape panels. The intermediate spaces, slightly smaller than 

 the panels themselves, are completely filled with peonies, chrysanthemums, 

 convolvulus, lilies, asters, and many other flowers. A more artistic or deli- 

 cately beautiful ornamentation than this and that of the following cup it 

 would be difficult to find. Mark as on No. 324. Height, If inches; diame- 

 ter, 2i inches. 



