Author: A. W. Franks

Publisher:

Published: 2015-08-05

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 9781332324934

Excerpt from Catalogue of a Collection of Oriental Porcelain and Pottery: Lent for Exhibition The collection now exhibited to the public has been gradually brought together in a somewhat desultory manner during a period of several years. Many other collections contain larger and finer specimens than are here to be found, such for instance as the brilliant series formed by Mr. Alfred Morrison or Mr. Louis Huth; but it is probable that none of them illustrate so fully the different varieties of porcelain which have been produced in the manufactories of China and Japan. For it will be seen that this collection has not been limited to choice or ancient specimens, but that even common and modern examples have been included- when they illustrate the subject. It is probably, moreover, the first time that any attempt has been made to exhibit Oriental porcelain divided into classes, and to distinguish the respective productions of China and Japan. This it has been by no means easy to do, and it will be for others to judge how far the attempt has succeeded. Further experience may lead hereafter to a more perfect classification. As the marks given in the plates have in nearly every case been copied from specimens in the collection, they will probably be found more accurate than those which have hitherto appeared, derived as the latter have been from different and sometimes untrustworthy sources. It may be well to give a brief account of what has been already published on the subject in order to obviate the necessity of frequent reference. The earliest description we have of the processes connected with the manufacture of Oriental porcelain is to be found in the valuable letters from a Jesuit Missionary, Pere d'Entrecolles, written in 1712 and 1722, and published in "Lettres edifiantes et curieuses." The most scientific work that has appeared on the nature of porcelain and its chemistry is the "Traite des Aits Cdramiques" by A. Brongniart, 1844. The only work which affords any native evidence on the history of Chiuese porcelain, and the various places at which it has been manufactured, is the "Histoire de la fabrication de la Poicelaine chinoise," translated from the Chinese by M. Stanislas Julien (Paris, 1856), which will be referred to hereafter as "The History of King-te-chin." 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."