Excerpt from Chinese Porcelain, Vol. 1 In addition to the works quoted from, there are others in both this and the French language, many of which might have been used with advantage; but to have employed them would have extended the size of this little volume beyond the limit of a hand-book, which it has already somewhat exceeded. Mr. T. J. Larkin has been good enough to read through the proofs, and the notes he has kindly appended the reader will find add greatly to the value of the work. Thanks are also due to Mr. Arbuthnot, of Shanghai, for sundry Chinese books. In conclusion, it only remains to thank Mr. Charles H. Read for kindly consenting to this book being dedicated to the memory of his old friend Sir W ellaston Franks. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Among all the china-wares of the world no examples are so aesthetically satisfying and interesting as those of the Chinese. The Celestial poets have suggested that the discovery belongs to the far-off days before Kubla Khan decreed a stately pleasure dome in Pekin in centuries extremely early to the Christians. -- Pg. 11.

Excerpt from Old Chinese Porcelain The middle vase is a Kang-he example of sprinkled blue decorated with various marine objects. The larger fishes are in red; the smaller designs in gold show other fish delicately drawn swimming through weeds and waves. In most specimens of powdered blue the gold designs are worn away to some extent. It was applied after the piece had been through various processes and another exposure to the oven might have proved a disaster. But in its worn form this over-glaze design adds depth and mystery to the already fathomless blue. The bottles seen on either side are also of the Kang-he period, and show characteristic coloured enamel decoration in reserves of white. These groups of owers and rocks and the various popular symbols show very effectively against the powdered. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."

Excerpt from Chinese Porcelain, Vol. 2 In the sixteenth century porcelain was so highly esteemed in Europe that many pieces were mounted in silver, and it is reasonable to suppose that the best specimens were selected for this honour. N ow, except, perhaps, where historical value attaches, as in the case of the Trenchard and Warham bowls, the mountings, as samples of early silver work, are of more value than the china they were originally designed to protect and ornament. The reason for this being that much finer porcelain has since come to hand; while to give value, artistic merit is necessary, as well as mere antiquity; and in the former qualification the Ming productions have been greatly distanced by the Tsing. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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