402 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



CHEAP PORCELAIN" PILED HIGH ALONG PORCELAIN" 



STREET 



with mechanical precision fash- 

 ions a plate, bowl, or vase. After 

 years of practice he can estimate 

 to within a hair's breadth the 

 proper size. 



The piece is then removed and 

 placed on a long tray in front of 

 the potter, where it awaits the 

 next artisan. Handles and other 

 decorations, made in molds, are 

 added, and then the whole is 

 scraped smooth and allowed to 

 dry until it is ready for the next 

 process — the under-glaze decora- 

 tion. 



Several basic colors, like blue 

 and red, can be painted on under 

 the glaze. The glaze is next ap- 

 plied in various ways — by dip- 

 ping, by blowing on with a tube, 

 or by sprinkling. After the mark 

 has been added the piece is ready 

 for the furnace. 



STRAW AND WOOD SCARCE ; COAL 

 NOT SUITED FOR KILNS 



Porcelain placed in the kiln to 

 be fired has to be protected in 

 strong, cylindrical clay vessels, 

 called saggers. These trays can 

 be used from three to six times 

 before they are ready for the 

 scrap heap on the river bank. 

 Every piece of porcelain, as it is 

 set into the sagger, is placed on a 

 small, round, clay chip, sprinkled 

 with straw ashes. This prevents 

 the fusing together of the two 

 pieces. 

 The fuel for the furnaces at Ching-teh- 



chen is of two kinds — straw and wood. 



Coal has been tried, but it was found that 



sifted, and refined they are kneaded to- 

 gether in varying proportions, usually by 

 a bare-footed boy. until they are ready 

 for the potter. The wet lump of clay is its fumes discolored the porcelain, and ac- 

 then placed on the knob of the potter's cordingly its use was discontinued. Straw 

 wheel (see page 397). is used to burn only the coarser ware. 



The potter's wheel, which was invented The fuel problem is a very acute one 



by the Chinese, is a huge circular ma- 

 chine, about four feet in diameter, made 

 of heavy timbers to lend it momentum. 

 It rests on a perpendicular axis in a 



and it is only with greatest difficulty that 

 wood can be secured at all. The neigh- 

 boring hills have long ago been defor- 

 ested, and firewood must be transported 



slight depression, or pit, into which water to Ching-teh-chen in river boats, often 



and debris rapidly drain 



The potter is perched above the wheel, 

 with one foot on either side, in order to 

 allow sufficient space for the movement 

 o\ his hands. After revolving the wheel 

 swiftly with a short pole, he deftly and 



from sources 200 or 300 miles distant. 

 Boats piled high with straw, projecting 

 over the sides almost to the capsizing 

 point, are common sights all along the 

 river. Wood-boats, too, are seen every- 

 where. 



