THE CERAMIC ART IN CHINA. 485 



362,36!?. Bice-howls (a pair) of pure white Taoknaug porcelain, slightly everted at 

 brtiu. On inside are live bats in vermilion (symbolical of the live happi- 

 nesses, see No. 27), irregularly placed at bottom. On outside are iris, the 

 veiuiug, etc., being in thick color in high relief, conventional pink lotna, 

 red peony, and flowers resembling the fox-glove and blue corn-flower, with 

 scroll-like foliage, all beautifully drawn in enamel colors of bright tints ou 

 thick pale lemon-yellow ground. Mark as on No. 346. Height, 2^ inches; 

 diameter, 5| inches. 



367. Bowl (small) of white Taokuang porcelain, with everted brim. Decorated with 



a spray of white plum and longevity fungus beautifully painted, and a poem 

 from the pen of the Emperor Taokuang and bearing his seal. Mark Shen-te- 

 t'ang, a designation applied by that Emperor to a portion of the Imperial 

 apartments and inscribed on the porcelain specially ordered by him for use 

 there. Height, 2^ inches ; diameter, 4^ inches. 



368. Circular dish of white Taokuang porcelain, decorated with sprays of peonies in 



vermilion below glaze and pink above glaze, and delicately painted butter- 

 flies and bees hovering over the flowers, the sprays spreading around the rira 

 and then crossing the brim cover the interior of the dish. Mark as on last. 

 Height, 1} inches ; diameter, 6| inches. 



369,370. i?Jce-&o((;/s (large, a pair) of white Taokuang porcelain. Inside plain. Out- 

 side, on a i)lain white ground not engraved, is the same decoration as on No. 

 240. The mark for some reason has been ground away. Height, 2f inches; 

 diameter, 6|^ inches. 



371. Jar of earthenware. The ornamentation, which is in high relief, consists of two 

 bands of foliate scroll-work, confining an umbrella, a cylindrical flower -jjot 

 containing coeleus, a gourd-shaped vase, and two rolled-up painting scrolls 

 crossed, alternating with sheaves of ornate foliage, nnder a black green glaze. 

 Height, 3f inches. 



372-375. Plates (4) of pure white Taokuang porcelain covered with brilliant glaze 

 and decorated with beautifully painted sprays of white plum blossom and 

 of pink roses, which, after trailing around the deep rim, cross the brim and 

 cover the inside of the plate. Mark as on No. 346. Diameter, 4|^ inches. 



MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTION OF SNUFF-BOTTLES. 



376. Of white porcelain and flat circular shape, formed by two lotus leaves, one of 



deep red grading into light green at center, the other of deep green grading 

 into pink at center, with butterfly settled upon each. Admirably molded- 

 No mark. 



377. Of white porcelain and ovate shape, decorated on one side with a Chinese 



rebus, three shrimps grasping reeds, which reads San-hsia nii-Ch'uan-lu. If 

 the third character be omitted, the phrase— by the substitution of characters 

 diflerently written, but having the same pronunciation — means " three gen- 

 erations have gained a place in the first class at the highest literary examin- 

 ations." On the opposite side, eighteen crabs, a similar rebus, meaning ".at 

 eighteen gained second place at the highest literary examination." Mark 

 Tao-luang-nien-chiJi : "Made in reign of Taokuang." 



378. Of white porcelain, in shape of a young girl, dressed in a jacket of blue damask 



and trousers of red brocaded with gold. She has the contracted feet of the 

 Chinese women. Body hollow, stopper formed by one foot, which is remov- 

 able from trousers. No mark. 



379. Of white porcelain in shape of a boy, intended to represent T'ung Fang-so (see 



No. 27), dressed in a robe of red brocaded with gold, open to skin from neck 

 to waist, green undergarments, and a summer season official hat, which is 

 removable and forms stopper. No mark. 



