CHINESE IDEAS OF ANTIQUES 57 



Then again the sky blue colour may have penetrated to 

 the core of the metal, leaving only a fine red thread like a 

 line of copper in the centre and in consequence of this the 

 vessel will still have a metal ring about it. Notwithstanding 

 these defects the article in question is a real antique. 

 Allowance should always be made for mattock hacks or 

 other injuries of excavation which will certainly be of a 

 different colour from the rest of the vessel. 



Copper wares which have been transmitted from genera- 

 tion to generation down through long ages, should be either of 

 a purple or coarse baize colour, while the latter colour may be 

 speckled with red sand granules. Some of these granules 

 protrude beyond the natural surface and in some respects 

 resemble Shen Cheo (It H'fl) sand. These peculiar markings 

 cannot be easily eradicated, even boiling the vessel in a 

 caldron will not obliterate them. On the contrary the 

 markings are only intensified by so doing. 



Counterfeit wares are manufactured by covering the 

 copper over with a coating of varnish and red sand. These 

 forged articles may be detected readily by those who make 

 a study of the science, because they show neither the marks 

 of the water soaked, nor land sweated nor hand transmitted 

 wares. Besides none of the genuine articles emit any 

 undesirable odour (excepting perhaps when the earth steamed 

 variety is first exhumed it may exhale a slightly savoured 

 earthy odour, which evaporates as the article becomes dry). 

 Forged articles on the contrary can easily be detected by 

 the smell they emit. If the palms of the hands are rubbed 

 together till they are quite hot and thereafter rubbed on the 

 article under scrutiny, it will emit an objectionable odour 

 which stifles the nostrils and is much to be dreaded, and 

 proves it to be false. 



The makers of forged copper wares have a definite 

 method of procedure, which is somewhat as follows. A 

 preparation consisting of quicksilver, pewter and lead is 

 compounded and applied to a new copper mirror. After 

 which a thick composition of vinegar and fine red sand is 

 painted over the whole article with a fine brush. If an 

 olive brown colour (2c Sh ^ j&) is desired, the mirror 

 is watched till the desired shade of colour is developed when 

 it is forthwith plunged into a bucket of freshly drawn cold 

 water which stops the development and fixes the colour. 

 If a female varnish colour (!& W 1*) is desired the article is 

 again watched till the desired colour has developed, when 

 the article is again plunged into fresh cold w r ater. If the 

 article is not plunged into cold water at the crucial moment 

 the colour rapidly changes till it becomes a pure sky blue 



