RETICULATED PORCELAIN
The porcelain called reticulées comes into the category of blue and
white because some of it was decorated with blue under the glaze.
The pieces have double walls, of which the outside one is pierced
with a pattern, often a network of exceeding fineness, a lace-work in
porcelain through which may be seen the exquisite blue design upon the
internal wall. It seems just as if the potter had two pieces made to
fit at the top and bottom only. On the foundation piece--the internal
wall--he expended the art of decoration in blue. On the other piece,
even more care must have been shown in cutting the clay into delicate
tracery, so minute as to be marvellous. Then the fitting of the two
walls together was completed, and finally the firing process took
place. Such pieces are pre-eminent in curiosity, in interest and in
skill, and their variations are wonderful. Some are only blue and
white, some are blue and white with reserves in biscuit. All had the
outside wall pierced with a pattern. We are giving as illustrations two
magnificent pieces of reticulated porcelain, but these are coloured
with enamel colours.
[Illustration: RETICULATED INCENSE BURNER.
_Of Very Fine Quality._
Specially interesting and exceedingly valuable, this vase deserves
careful study. It is a pity that it cannot be given in all the beauty
of its colouring. At the top is a large panel containing the figure of
a man offering the "Fruit of Life" to one of the immortals, at whose
side is a deer; the remainder of this has rocks, foliage, a tree, and
clouds, richly enamelled in green, aubergine, blue, and _rouge de fer_;
the whole surrounded by a border of formal design in _rouge de fer_.
The remainder contains sixteen panels. Each of the top eight contains
a figure of the eight immortals with their various insignia; the robes
of the figures are enamelled in _rouge de fer_, aubergine, blue, black,
yellow, and various greens; whilst the lower portion has figures
of boys playing various games, similarly enamelled. Dividing each
panel is a broad band containing formal flowers and leaves in blue,
green, and black, on bright yellow, whilst at the top of the base and
bottom of the cover are aubergine bands with black tracery design and
formal flowers in _rouge de fer_, blue, and yellow. The whole of the
reticulated work is of brilliant yellow enamel. At the base is a broad
plain black band, above which is a design of Joo-e-heads in apple-green.
NOTE.--This example is believed to be the largest specimen of
reticulated work of the Ming period known to exist, and is equally
remarkable for the high quality of its artistic work.
From the Collection of G. R. Davies, Esq.]
[Illustration: VASE. RETICULATED PORCELAIN.
A very rare and fine quality reticulated bulbous-shaped Vase with
short neck. The body is decorated with figures, trees, &c., in a bold
design. The shoulder, which is supported from the top by a band of
blue, is decorated with various flowers and leaves. The base, which
is a conventional design, is also supported from the centre by dark
and light blue bands. The whole vase is brilliantly enamelled in
aubergine, blue, yellow, &c. Ming period. This piece is a specimen of
the coloured glazes on biscuit in which, after the piercing of the
pattern on the air-dried clay has been carried out, it is fired in
the kiln before being glazed. In classification this would be in the
"Celadon biscuit" class. The reticulation in this specimen, though not
so fine as in the other example which we have given, is very wonderful.
How skilful the potter must have been to carve such an intricate
pattern from a sun-dried vase! How each stroke of the tool must have
had careful attention, so that, whilst aiming at a lace-like effect,
the body of the vase should still be strong enough to bear the biscuit
firing without breaking! Of course care had to be exercised in the
painting, which was rarely in monochrome; generally, yellow, green,
blue, maroon, and aubergine were employed. Then the second firing took
place. In nearly all biscuit Celadon the paste or body is thinner than
in ordinary Celadon, because the pattern had to be cut into and through
it. To this class belongs the Ming Celadon, having the figures and
other ornament in relief.]
XIX
DECORATED
WITH
COLOURED
ENAMELS