Chap. II. LACQUER-WARE — PORCELAIN. 35 
where this can be procured ; but the prices asked, 
and obtained, are very high. The fine polish of the 
old lac is unrivalled, and the specimens are often- 
times covered with figures of gold. This ware 
is met with in the form of writing-boxes and boxes 
for holding papers, trays, cabinets, screens, &c. 
The finest pieces are often very small, and, although 
not of much use, are sufficient to show the high 
state of the art at the time when they were made. 
I saw few examples of ancient porcelain, although 
we know that some fine pieces have found their 
way to Europe from Japan. The porcelain-shops 
are full of modem ware, chiefly remarkable for 
the fine eggshell cups ; and I found one or two 
examples of good colouring. Generally I did not 
admire it, and considered it not equal to that now 
made in China, and far inferior to the ancient 
porcelain of that country. I observed some cups 
and basins, with paintings of English ladies not 
badly executed. This shows how quick and imi- 
tative the Japanese are as a people, and how 
different they are from the slow-going Chinese. 
In some of the shops I observed some large 
crystal-looking balls said to be of rock crystal. 
These were finely polished and clear — not a flaw 
of any kind could be detected in their structure — 
and were highly prized owing to their great size 
and beauty. 
All sorts of toys were abundant, and some of 
them were most ingenious and pretty. There 
were glass balls, with numerous little tortoises in- 
