the letters of père d'entrecolles

7/25/2019 The Letters of Pre d'Entrecolles

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The Letters of Pre d'EntrecollesPart 1

From William Burton's Porcelain, It's Art and Manufacture , B.T. Batsford, London, 1906. The rstletter was addressed to Pere Orr , !ro"urer of the #hinese and $ndian missions, and is dated from

%ao&"hou & the "a!ital of the distri"t & e!tem(er 1, 1)1*.

T+ L TT - OF P - /' T- #OLLFrom time to time $ ha e sta ed in #hin2&t3&"h3n to administer to the s!iritual ne"essities of m"on erts, and so $ ha e interested m self in the manufa"ture of this (eautiful !or"elain, whi"h isso hi2hl !ri4ed, and is sent to all !arts of the world. othin2 (ut m "uriosit "ould e er ha e!rom!ted me to su"h resear"hes, (ut it a!!ears to me that a minute des"ri!tion of all that"on"erns this 5ind of wor5 mi2ht, somehow, (e useful in uro!e.

Besides what $ m self ha e seen, $ ha e learnt a 2reat man !arti"ulars from m neo!h tes,se eral of whom wor5 in !or"elain, while others do a 2reat trade in it. $ also "on rmed the truth ofthe information the had 2i en me ( a stud of the #hinese (oo5s on the su( e"t, so that $(elie e $ ha e o(tained a !rett e7a"t 5nowled2e of all that "on"erns this (eautiful art, so that $

"an tal5 a(out it with some "on den"e. 8mon2 these (oo5s $ e7amined the histor of Fou&lian2,and $ ha e read "arefull , in the fourth olume, the arti"le on !or"elain.

$t sa s in these annals that formerl the !or"elain was of e7 uisite whiteness and free from fault,so that when the !ie"es were trans!orted into other "ountries, the were 5nown onl as the!re"ious ewels of %ao&"hou. Further on, it sa s the (eautiful !or"elain whi"h is of su"h i idwhiteness or of a (eautiful "elestial (lue, all "omes from #hin2&t3&"h3n: there is some made inother !la"es, (ut it is uite di;erent in "olour as well as in nish.

Without mentionin2 e7am!les of the !otter that are made all o er #hina, (ut whi"h are not "alled!or"elain, there are some !ro in"es su"h as Fu"hien and #anton where !or"elain is made, (utforei2ners "an ma5e no mista5e for the !or"elain of Fu"hien is white li5e snow without sheen, and

it is not de"orated with "olours. ome wor5men of #hin2&to&"hen formerl trans!orted themsel esand their materials there, ho!in2 to ma5e "onsidera(le !ro t ( reason of the 2reat uro!ean"ommer"e at 8mo : (ut this s"heme "ame to nau2ht, as the were not su""essful in theirmanufa"ture.

The rei2nin2 m!eror, who ne2le"ts nothin2, had !or"elain wor5ers sent from #hin2&to&"hen toPe5in2, to2ether with e er thin2 !ro!er for this 5ind of wor5: nothin2 was omitted that would ha eena(led the wor5 done under his e es to su""eed, (ut it is stated that this also ended in failure. $tma (e that !oliti"al or other interests had somethin2 to do with this want of su""ess, (ut,howe er that ma (e, #hin2&to&"hen alone has the honour of sendin2 !or"elain to all !arts of the

world, e en the %a!anese (u from there.

felds!athi" ro"5A and the other ao&lin. The latter is disseminated with "or!us"les,whi"h ha e some shimmer *, the former is sim!l white and er ne to the tou"h. While a lar2enum(er of (i2 (oats "ome u! the ri er from %ao&"hou to #hin2&to&"hen to (e loaded with !or"elain,
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nearl as man small ones "ome down from i&m"tn laden with Pe&tun&tse and ao&lin made u!into (ri"5s, for #hin2&t3&"h3n does not !rodu"e an of the materials suita(le for !or"elain. Pe&tun&tse, whi"h is so ne in 2rain, is sim!l !ul eri4ed ro"5 ta5en from uarries, and then sha!ed into(ri"5s. er 5ind of stone is not suita(le, or it would not (e ne"essar to 2o for it, twent or thirtmiles awa , into the ne7t !ro in"e. The 2ood stone, the #hinese sa , must ha e a sli2ht tin2e of2reen. The !ie"es of stone are rst (ro5en with iron hammers, and the fra2ments are redu"ed to a

er ne !owder in mortars ( means of "ertain le ers, whi"h ha e a stone head shod with iron. These le ers are wor5ed in"essantl , either ( men or ( water&!ower, in the same wa as the tilt&hammers in !a!er&mills. The !owder is then !ut into a 2reat essel lled with water, and stirred

i2orousl with an iron sho el. When it has (een allowed to stand se eral minutes, a 5ind of "reamforms at the to! four or e n2ers thi"5: this the ta5e o; and !ut into another essel full ofwater. The mi7ture in the rst essel is stirred u! se eral times, and ea"h time the remo e thes"um that 2athers on the to!, until nothin2 is left (ut the lar2er !arti"les, the wei2ht of whi"hma5es them sin5 to the (ottom: these are nall ta5en out and a2ain !ounded. With re2ard to these"ond essel into whi"h the !ut all that has (een s5immed out of the rst, the wait until a 5indof !aste has formed at the (ottom, and when the water a(o e it seems er "lear it is !oured o;so as not to distur( the sediment. This !aste is then thrown into moulds, whi"h are a 5ind of lar2eand wide wooden (o7, the (ottom of whi"h is a (ed of (ri"5s with an e en surfa"e. O er this (ri"5(ed a "oarse "loth is stret"hed, u! to the sides of the "ase: this "loth is lled with the !aste, andsoon afterwards the "o er it with another "loth on the to! of whi"h the !ut a la er of (ri"5s laide enl , one ( the side of the other. This hel!s to s uee4e out the water more ui"5l without

losin2 an of the !or"elain material whi"h, as it hardens readil , ta5es the sha!e of the (ri"5sC

.Before it has (e"ome uite hard the !aste is di ided into little (ri"5s, whi"h are sold ( thehundred: this "olour and the sha!e ha e 2i en it the name Pe&tun&tse. There would (e nothin2 toadd to this !re!aration if the #hinese were not in the ha(it of adulteratin2 their mer"handise: (ut!eo!le who roll little 2rains of !aste in !e!!er dust, and mi7 them with real !e!!er"orns, are notli5el to sell Pe&tun&tse without mi7in2 it with "oarser materials, so that it has to (e !uri ed afresh(efore it is used.

ao&lin re uires a little less la(or than Pe&tun&tse : nature has done the 2reater !art. Dines of it arefound in the heart of "ertain mountains, whi"h on the outside are "o ered with reddish earth.

These mines are fairl dee! : it is found there in masses, and it is also made u! into little s uaresin the same method as des"ri(ed a(o e for the Pe&tun&tse. $ should (e in"lined to thin5 that the

white "la of Dalta, 5nown as the "la of t. Paul, a!!roa"hes in its nature to the 5ao&lin $ ams!ea5in2 of, althou2h one "annot !er"ei e in it the small sil er !arti"les with whi"h the 5ao&lin issown. Fine !or"elain owes its stren2th to the 5ao&lin: it is onl the mi7ture of a soft earth or a soft"la , whi"h 2i es stren2th to the Pe&tun&tse o(tained from the hardest ro"5s.

8 ri"h mer"hant told me that the n2lish or /ut"h @the #hinese use the same name for (othnationsA (ou2ht, se eral ears a2o, some Pe&tun&tse, whi"h the too5 to their own "ountr to ma5e!or"elain with, (ut, ha in2 ta5en no 5ao&lin, their underta5in2 failed, as the afterwards owned.

The #hinese mer"hant said to me, lau2hin2, E The wanted to ha e a (od without (ones tosu!!ort its ?esh.EBesides the (oats laden with Pe&tun&tse and ao&lin with whi"h the ri er(an5 at #hin2&to&"hen islined, others are lled with a whitish li uid su(stan"e. $ ha e lon2 5nown that this su(stan"e is theoil that 2i es !or"elain its whiteness and its sheen, (ut $ did not 5now its "om!osition, whi"h $ha e sin"e learnt. $t seems to me that the #hinese name E Geou E whi"h the a!!l to di;erent5inds of oil suits the li uid $ am s!ea5in2 of less than the word E Tsi,E whi"h means 2la4e, and $should thin5 that !eo!le would "all it ( that name in uro!e. This oil or 2la4e is e7tra"ted fromthe hardest stone: whi"h is not sur!risin2, as it is said that stones are "hie? formed out of thesalts and oils of the earth, whi"h mi7 and "losel unite to2ether. 8lthou2h the same 5ind of stonefrom whi"h Pe&tun&tse is !re!ared ma also (e used for the !re!aration of this 2la4e, the2enerall sele"t the whitest !ie"es and those, whi"h ha e the 2reenest s!ots.

The histor of Fou&lian2, thou2h it does not enter into details, sa s that the (est stone for the2la4e is that whi"h has s!ots similar in "olour to the " !ress leaf H, or with reddish mar5s on a(rownish 2round somethin2 li5e toad?a7. The ro"5 is rst well washed, and then !re!ared in thesame wa as Pe&tun&tse: when the !urest stu; has all (een "olle"ted out of the rst essel into these"ond one the add to a(out e er hundred !ounds of the "ream one !ound of a stone or mineralli5e alum, named hih&5ao 6. I This has to (e rst roasted in a re and then !ounded: it a"ts li5erennet in "oa2ulatin2 the material, thou2h "are is ta5en to 5ee! it li uid. This stone 2la4e is ne erused alone, (ut another is mi7ed with it whi"h a"ts li5e its essen"e. The "om!osition of this is asfollows > The ta5e (i2 !ie"es of ui"5lime, on to whi"h a little water is thrown ( hand to redu"e
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them to !owder: a (ed of dried (ra"5en is s!read u!on this and then another la er of sla5ed lime,and so on alternatel : then the ferns are set on re. When all is "onsumed the ashes are s!readu!on new (eds of dried (ra"5en. This is re!eated e or si7 times runnin2: it "an (e done stilloftener, and the 2la4e is all the (etter for it. Formerl , so it sa s in the histor of Fou&lian2, theused (esides the (ra"5en the wood of the tree e&tse. $ should thin5 ( the tartness of this fruitwhen it is not ri!e, and ( its little "rownin2 hus5, that it is a 5ind of medlar. D "on erts tell methat this wood is no lon2er used, seemin2l (e"ause it has (e"ome er s"ar"e in this distri"t. $twas !erha!s owin2 to this wood that the !or"elain made in earl times is more (eautiful than thatwhi"h is made nowada s. The nature of the lime and the (ra"5en ."ontri(ute also to the ualit ofthe 2la4e, and $ ha e noti"ed that that whi"h "omes from "ertain !la"es is mu"h more esteemedthan that whi"h "omes from elsewhere. When the ha e o(tained a "ertain uantit of the ashesof lime and (ra"5en, the are thrown into essels full of water. $n one hundred !ounds thedissol e a !ound of hih&5ao @see a(o eA. The mi7ture is stirred u! and then left to stand untilthere a!!ears on the surfa"e a s"um or "rust, whi"h is s5immed o; and thrown into a se"ond

essel, and so on se eral times. When a 5ind of !aste has "olle"ted at the (ottom of the se"ondessel the de"ant the water, and the li uid sediment is used as the se"ond oil to (e mi7ed with

the !re ious one. For a !ro!er mi7ture it is ne"essar that the two !urees are e uall thi"5 : toensure this the di! into ea"h little s uares of Pe&tun&tse, whi"h the di! in se eral times, and thenta5e out to ud2e if the thi"5ness of the de!osit is the same with (oth.

The (est 2la4es are made from a mi7ture of ten !arts of the stone 2la4e with one !art of the 2la4eof lime and fern ashes, and the most e"onomi"al ne er !ut less than three !arts. The mer"hantswho sell the 2la4e, howe er little in"lined the are to "heat, do not thin5 mu"h of in"reasin2 its

olume: the !ut water to the 2la4e, and, to dis2uise their fraud, the add hih&5ao in !ro!ortionto thi"5en the li uid.Before $ e7!lain the wa in whi"h this 2la4e is used it will (e (etter to des"ri(e how the !or"elain ismade. $n the less fre uented distri"ts of #hin2&to&"hen are ast sheds surrounded ( walls, whereone sees ran2ed, sta2e u!on sta2e: a 2reat num(er of ars of earth. Within these walls li e andwor5 an in nite num(er of wor5!eo!le, who ea"h ha e their allotted tas5, and a !ie"e of !or"elain,(efore it is read to 2o into the o en, !asses throu2h the hands of twent !ersons, and thatwithout an "onfusion. /ou(tless the ha e !ro ed that the wor5 is done mu"h more ui"5l inthis wa . The rst tas5 "onsists in !urif in2 a2ain the Pe&tun&tse and the ao&lin from the wasteadded to it when it was sold, whi"h is !erformed ( the same washin2 and settlin2 as (efore

des"ri(ed. $t is not ne"essar to (rea5 u! the !ie"es of ao&lin: these are sim!l !ut into a ero!en (as5et, whi"h is !la"ed in a essel lled with water, where the ao&lin easil li ue es ofitself, thou2h there is 2enerall a residue left whi"h must (e thrown awa . B the end of a ear thiswaste a""umulates, and forms (i2 masses of a white s!on2 sand, whi"h the wor5men must "learout from their wor5sho!s.

When the two materials ha e (een !re!ared in this wa the must (e mi7ed intheir !ro!er !ro!ortions. For the ne !or"elains the !ut as mu"h ao&lin as Pe&tun&tse: for the inferior ones the use four !arts of ao&lin and si7 !arts of Pe&tun&tse: while the least that the use is one !art of ao&lin and three of Pe&tun&tse.

The mi7ture is thrown into a (i2 !it well !a ed and "emented, where it istrodden and 5neaded until it (e"omes sti; : this is er la(orious wor5: those#hristians who are em!lo ed at it nd it diJ"ult to attend "hur"h: the are onl

allowed to 2o if the "an nd su(stitutes, (e"ause as soon as this wor5 isinterru!ted all the other wor5men are sto!!ed.

From the mass thus !re!ared, lum!s are ta5en and s!read on lar2e slates. The wor5men 5nead,(eat, and roll them thorou2hl , ta5in2 "are that no hollows are left inside the mass and that noforei2n (odies 2et into it. 8 hair, a 2rain of sand would s!oil the whole wor5. $f this mass is (adlwor5ed the !or"elain "ra"5s, s!lits, dro!s or (ends. From these !rime materials su"h (eautifulwor5s of !or"elain are !rodu"ed, some ( sha!in2 on the wheel, others onl in moulds : and theare afterwards nished with a 5nife. 8ll the !lain !ie"es are made in the rst wa . 8 "u!, fore7am!le, when it lea es the wheel, is er rou2hl sha!ed, almost li5e the to! of a hat (efore ithas (een (lo"5ed. The rst wor5man onl 2i es it the re uired diameter and hei2ht, and it lea eshis hands almost as soon as it is "ommen"ed, for he re"ei es onl three deniers !er (oard, and onea"h (oard are twent &si7 !ie"es. The foot of the "u! is then nothin2 (ut a !ie"e of "la of thene"essar width, and it is onl hollowed out with a 5nife when . the other o!erations are nished,and when the "u! is dr and rm enou2h. When the "u! lea es the wheel it is ta5en ( a se"ond


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wor5man, who !uts it strai2ht u!on its (ase. hortl afterwards it is handed o er to a third man,who !uts it on its mould and 2i es it its sha!e: this mould is mounted on a 5ind of wheel. 8 fourthwor5man trims and !olishes the "u!, es!e"iall the rims, with a 5nife, and !ares it down as mu"has ne"essar for its trans!aren" : he s"ra!es it se eral times and moistens ea"h time, howe erlittle he ma ha e !ared it, if it is too dr , for fear he should (rea5 it. $n ta5in2 the "u! from themould the turn it softl on the same mould without !ressin2 it more on one side than the other,otherwise it would de elo! "a ities in the "la or it would 2o out of sha!e. $t is sur!risin2 to seethe ra!idit with whi"h these essels !ass throu2h so man di;erent hands : and $ am told that a!ie"e of red !or"elain has !assed throu2h the hands of se ent wor5men. $ "an easil (elie ethis ( what $ ha e m self seen, for these 2reat wor5sho!s ha e (een for me a 5ind of 8reo!a2us,where $ ha e !rea"hed +im who fashioned the rst man out of "la , and from whose hands wede!art to (e"ome essels of honour or of shame.

The lar2e o( e"ts of !or"elain are made in two !ie"es: one half is lifted on the wheel ( three orfour men, who su!!ort it on ea"h side while it is (ein2 sha!ed: the other half, whi"h is almost dr ,is !ut on to it, and the oin the two to2ether with the same !or"elain materials diluted with water,whi"h ser es as a sort of mortar or 2lue. When these !ie"es, so 2lued, are uite dr the seam or

oin is !olished inside and outside with a tool, so that, with the hel! of the 2la4e, no ine ualit isleft. $n this wa , too ) , the !ut handles, ears, and other !ie"es on to ases. This relates "hie? tothe !ie"es that are made in moulds or ( hand, su"h as ?uted !ie"es, or those of (i4arre sha!e:animals, 2rotes ues, idols, the (usts ordered ( uro!eans, and su"h&li5e thin2s. This 5ind ofmoulded !ie"e is made in three or four !arts, whi"h are oined to2ether and nished ( the use oftools, ( whi"h means the are !olished, "ar ed, or hollowed and !erfe"ted in details that themould does not 2i e. 8s for ?owers and other ornaments, whi"h are not in relief, (ut in inta2lio,the are im!ressed in the !or"elain ( seals or stam!s: reliefs, read !re!ared, are also a!!lied inthe same wa , almost as 2old la"e is !ut on a "oat.

$ ha e re"entl learnt somethin2 "on"ernin2 these moulds. When the o(tain a model of anre uired !ie"e of !or"elain, whi"h is su"h that it "annot (e made ( hand on the wheel, theim!ress on the model some mouldin2&"la , and when this has (een !ro!erl im!ressed it is "ut u!into !ie"es of !rett lar2e si4e, whi"h are left to sti;en. When the moulds are to (e used these"tions are !ut in front of the re, after whi"h the are "oated with the !or"elain materiala""ordin2 to the thi"5ness re uired. The !ress this "oatin2 rml ( hand, and then the mould

with the "oatin2 is !ut for a moment in front of the re, to deta"h the "la !ress from the mould. The arious se"tions of the whole !ie"e, after (ein2 se!aratel moulded, are oined to2ether witha thi"5 sli! of the !or"elain materials. $ ha e seen animal 2ures of lar2e si4e made in this wa ,and after the had left the su(stan"e to 2et hard it was sha!ed and nished with a tool and these!arate !arts were then united to2ether. 8fterwards !ie"es are 2la4ed and red. $f it is desired toha e a de"oration of di;erent "olours this is afterwards !ainted and the 2old is a!!lied, and then itis red a se"ond time. This 5ind of !or"elain, whi"h is made with 2reat "are, is of "ourse erdear...

1. Pere d' ntre"olles here uses the #hinese word. The s!ea5 of the 2la4e of !or"elain as 'oil'.

*. identl a referen"e to the !arti"les of white mi"a whi"h had not (een se!arated from theao&linite.

C. $t is interestin2 to see this rudimentar lter&!ress (ein2 used in #hina nearl one hundredand ft ears (efore lter&!resses were introdu"ed in ta;ordshire.

. The word EoilE is alwa s used for 2la4e ( Pere d' ntre"olles. But we shall now translate itglaze to a oid "onfusion.

H. /r. Bushell sa s this refers to dendriti" mar5in2s of o7ide of man2anese.

6. K !sum or sul!hate of lime.
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). That is ( the use of 'sli!'.

The Letters of Pre d'EntrecollesPart *

From William Burton's Porcelain, It's Art and Manufacture , B.T. Batsford, London, 1906.

$t is time to enno(le the !or"elain ( !assin2 it o er into the hands of the !ainters. 1 These

!or"elain !ainters are not less !oor and wret"hed than the other wor5men, whi"h is not ersur!risin2 when we remem(er that in uro!e the would onl !ass for a!!renti"es of a fewmonths' standin2. 8ll the s"ien"e of these !ainters, and of #hinese !ainters in 2eneral, is (ased onno !rin"i!les, and onl "onsists in a "ertain routine hel!ed ( a limited turn of ima2ination. The5now nothin2 of the (eautiful rules of this art: thou2h it must (e a"5nowled2ed that the !aint?owers, animals, and lands"a!es whi"h are mu"h admired, on !or"elain as well as on fans andlanterns of the nest 2au4e. The !aintin2 is distri(uted in the same wor5sho! amon2 a 2reatnum(er of wor5men. One wor5man does nothin2 (ut draw the rst "olour line (eneath the rims ofthe !ie"es: another tra"es ?owers, whi"h a third one !aints: this man is !aintin2 water andmountains, and that one either (irds or other animals. +uman 2ures are 2enerall treated theworst. #ertain lands"a!es and !lans of towns that are (rou2ht o er from uro!e to #hina willhardl allow us, howe er, to mo"5 at the #hinese for the manner in whi"h the re!resentthemsel es in their !aintin2s.

8s for the !or"elain "olours, the are of e er 5ind. $n uro!e !eo!le hardl see an thin2 else (uta i id (lue on a white 2round, thou2h $ (elie e that our mer"hants ha e also im!orted some ofthe other 5inds. * There are some !ie"es the 2round of whi"h is li5e that of our !olished metalmirrors: others are wholl red, and amon2 these some ha e the red in the 2la4e, while others areof a sou red C, and are s!rin5led with little dots almost li5e our miniatures. When these two 5indsof wor5 are su""essfull !rodu"ed whi"h is rather diJ"ult&the are hi2hl !ri4ed and e7tremel

dear.

Finall there are !or"elain !ie"es where the lands"a!es with whi"h theare !ainted are formed of nearl all the di;erent "olours, enhan"ed (the (rillian"e of 2ildin2. These are er (eautiful when no e7!ense iss!ared, (ut the ordinar !or"elain of this 5ind is not to (e "om!aredwith that !ainted in (lue alone. $t sa s in the annals of #hin2&t3&"h3nthat formerl the !eo!le onl used white !or"elain : a!!arentl the hadnot found in the nei2h(orhood of %ao&"hou a (lue e ual to that whi"h"omes from a 2reat distan"e and whi"h is er dear.

$t is said that a !or"elain mer"hant, ha in2 (een wre"5ed on a desert"oast, found there more ri"hes than he had lost. While he was roamin2a(out the shore, and his ser ants were ma5in2 a small essel out of theremains of his shi!, he !er"ei ed that stones t to ma5e the most(eautiful (lue were uite "ommon there. +e too5 with him a (i2 load,and the sa that su"h (eautiful (lue had ne er (een seen at #hin2&t3&

"h3n. Later on the #hinese mer"hant tried in ain to nd the "oast where "han"e had on"e senthim.

The (lue is made in the followin2 wa > $t is (uried in the 2ra el that lies half a foot dee! on the(ed of the !or"elain furna"e, where it is roasted for twent &four hours: then it is redu"ed to anim!al!a(le !owder in the same wa as other "olours, not on a mar(le sla(, (ut in a lar2e !or"elainmortar, the (ottom of whi"h is left un2la4ed, as is also the head of the !estle whi"h is used for!oundin2.

The red is made from "o!!eras @"r stals of sul!hate of ironA, and as it ma (e that the #hineseha e somethin2 s!e"ial in it, $ will re!ort their method. The !ut a !ound of "o!!eras into a"ru"i(le, whi"h is well luted to a se"ond "ru"i(le used as a "o er, in whi"h the ma5e a small hole,whi"h is "o ered so that it "an (e easil un"o ered if needed. The whole is surrounded ( a lar2e"har"oal re, and in order to ha e more heat re er(erated u!on it the !ut (ri"5s all round a(outit. 8s lon2 as the smo5e that rises @from the hole in the to! "ru"i(leA is er (la"5 the material isnot et read , (ut it is nished as soon as a 5ind of thin ne "loud a!!ears. Then the ta5e someof the stu;, mi7 it with water, and ma5e an e7!eriment ( ru((in2 it on a !ie"e of r wood. $f it
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!rodu"es a (eautiful red the ta5e awa the "har"oal re and !artiall "o er the "ru"i(le. Whenthis has "ooled down a small "a5e of the red "olour is found at the (ottom of the "ru"i(le, (ut the

nest red is that whi"h is stu"5 to the inside of the "o erin2 "ru"i(le. One !ound of "o!!erasma5es four oun"es of the red "olour.

8lthou2h !or"elain is naturall white, and the 2la4e adds to its whiteness, there are "ertainde"orations for whi"h the use a s!e"ial white on the !or"elain that is !ainted in di;erent "olours.

This white is made from the !owder of a trans!arent ro"5, whi"h is "al"ined in the o en in thesame wa as the a4ure (lue. H To half an oun"e of this !owder the !ut an oun"e of white lead. This!owder also is used in the !re!aration of other "olours: for e7am!le, to ma5e a 2reen the ta5ehalf an oun"e of the !owder of this !e((le, and the add one oun"e of white lead and threeoun"es of the er !urest s"oriae of "o!!er.

The !re!ared 2reen (e"omes the matri7 of the iolet "olour, whi"h is o(tained ( addin2 a dose of white. The !re!aration of the 2reen is aried a""ordin2 to the tint of iolet the wish to !rodu"e.

8 ellow "olour is made ( ta5in2 se en dra"hms of white !re!ared as a(o e, to whi"h the addthree dra"hms of the red "olour made from "o!!eras.

8ll these "olours, !ut on to the !or"elain that is alread red after ha in2 (een 2la4ed, a!!ear2reen, iolet, ellow, or red onl after the se"ond rin2. The #hinese (oo5s sa that these "olours"an onl (e a!!lied with white lead, salt!eter, and "o!!eras. The #hristians who are em!lo ed inthis wor5 ha e onl s!o5en to me of white lead, whi"h is mi7ed with the "olour diluted with 2um&water. The red of whi"h $ ha e (een s!ea5in2, with the ordinar !or"elain 2la4e, and another 2la4emade from white !e((les, are !re!ared in the same wa as the ordinar 2la4es. $ ha e not (eena(le to learn the uantit either of one or the other: neither how mu"h red is mi7ed with this2la4e: (ut e7!eriments will re eal the se"rets. The then !ut the !or"elain to dr , and re it in theordinar o en. $f after the rin2 the red "omes out !ure and (rilliant without (lemishes, the ha eo(tained the !erfe"tion of the art. These !or"elain !ie"es ha e no resonan"e when the arestru"5. 6 The other 5ind of red, 5nown as sou red, is made thus > The "olour ha in2 (een!re!ared, the ta5e a tu(e, one end of whi"h is "o ered with er ne 2au4e: the softl a!!l the(ottom of the tu(e to the "olour : the 2au4e (ein2 lled with "olour, the (low into the tu(e, andthe !or"elain is "o ered all o er with little red s!ots. This 5ind of !or"elain is rarer and dearer thanthe other, (e"ause it is more diJ"ult to ma5e if the must o(ser e the ne"essar !re"autions. The(la"5 !or"elain has also its alue and its (eaut : this (la"5 "ontains lead, and is not unli5e our!olished metal mirrors. When this is 2ilded it is still more "harmin2. The (la"5 "olour is 2i en tothe !or"elain when it is dr , and for this !ur!ose the mi7 three oun"es of (lue with se en oun"esof ordinar 2la4e. ) 7!eriments will tell ou e7a"tl how to ma5e this mi7ture a""ordin2 to there uired shade. When the "olour is dr the re the !or"elain, and afterwards the !aint the 2oldu!on it and re it a2ain in a s!e"ial furna"e.

8nother 5ind of !or"elain that is made here $ ha e not seen (efore. $t is all !erforated li5e "ut!a!er wor5, while inside it is a "u! for holdin2 a li uid. The "u! is in one !ie"e with the !erforateden elo!e. $ ha e seen other !or"elains on whi"h #hinese and Tartar ladies were !ainted in natural"olours. The dra!er , the "om!le7ion, and the features were all e7 uisite, so that from a distan"e

one mi2ht ha e thou2ht the were !ie"es of enamel.$t ma (e remar5ed that when the use on their !or"elains the 2la4e made from white !e((les,the ware (e"omes a s!e"ial 5ind whi"h the "all Tsoui&5i. This is all mar(led and "ra"5ed with anin nit of eins, so that from a distan"e one mi2ht thin5 it was shattered into a thousandfra2ments without fallin2 to !ie"es, so that it resem(les a !ie"e of mosai" wor5. The "olour whi"his 2i en ( this 2la4e is a somewhat ashen white. $f the !ie"e of !or"elain has (een !ainted in (lueand this 2la4e is used u!on it, it a!!ears li5ewise "ra"5ed and mar(led when the "olour is dr .

When the wish to a!!l 2old the (eat it and 2rind it in water in a !or"elain dish until the seeunderneath the water a little 2olden "loud. This the lea e to dr , and in use the mi7 it with asuJ"ien" of 2um&water, and with thirt !arts of 2old the in"or!orate three !arts of white lead,

and !ut it on the !or"elain in the same wa as the "olours.Finall there is a 5ind of !or"elain made as follows The 2i e it the ordinar 2la4e and re it, thenthe !aint it with di;erent "olours and re it a2ain: sometimes the !aintin2 is reser edintentionall until after the rst re, and sometimes the use this method to hide defe"ts in the
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!or"elain !ie"es ( !aintin2 "olours on the defe"ti e !la"es and rin2 them a se"ond time. This!or"elain, thou2h it is o er&"oloured, is, howe er, li5ed ( man !eo!le. $t often ha!!ens that onefeels une ennesses on !or"elain of this 5ind, whi"h ma (e due to the want of s5ill of thewor5man, or it ma (e that it was ne"essar to 2i e shadows to the !aintin2, or that it wasintended to "o er the defe"ts of the !or"elain (od . When the !aintin2 is dr , as well as the2ildin2, if there is an , the !ile the !or"elain !ie"es into the 5iln, !uttin2 the small ones into the(i2 ones. The 5ilns for rin2 the 2oods ma (e made of iron if the are small, (ut 2enerall theare of "la . The one $ saw was as hi2h as a man and nearl as wide as our (i22est wine "as5: itwas made in se eral !ie"es, and from the same materials as the !or"elain sa22ars, the se!arate!ie"es (ein2 a foot hi2h and a foot and a half lon2, thou2h the were onl a n2er's (readth thi"5.Before the were red the had (een rounded into the !ro!er sha!e: the were !ut one o eranother and well "emented. The (ottom of the 5iln was raised half a foot from the 2round. $t was!ut on rows of thi"5 (ut not er (i2 (ri"5s, while round the 5iln was a wall of well&(a5ed (ri"5s,whi"h had at the (ottom three or four holes li5e the hollows of a re!la"e. This (ri"5 wall left anem!t s!a"e of a(out half a foot, with the e7"e!tion of three or four !la"es whi"h were lled u! soas to ma5e ri(s for the 5iln. $ (elie e the ere"t the 5iln and its en"losure at the same time,otherwise the 5iln would ha e no su!!ort. The ll the 5iln with the !or"elain !ie"es that are to (e

red a se"ond time, !uttin2 them in !iles, the smaller !ie"es into the (i22er ones, as $ ha e said.When all is read the "o er the to! of the 5iln with !ie"es of !otter li5e those used for the sides :these !ie"es, whi"h "ross one another, are "losel united to2ether ( a "la mortar. Onl in themiddle do the lea e a hole throu2h whi"h the "an see when the !or"elain is suJ"ientl red.

The li2ht a uantit of "har"oal under the 5iln as well as on the to!, and the !ut !ie"es into thes!a"e (etween the (ri"5 en"losure and the 5iln, the hole on the to! of the 5iln (ein2 "o ered witha !ie"e of (ro5en !it"her. When the re has (e"ome (ri2ht the loo5 from time to time throu2hthis hole, and when the !or"elain seems shin and the "olours are (ri2ht and 2loss the !ull outthe re and afterwards the !or"elain.

8n idea "omes into m mind a(out these "olours whi"h are used on !or"elain !ie"es that ha ealread (een red, and are rendered 2loss ( means of white lead, to whi"h, a""ordin2 to theannals of Fou&$ian2 the formerl added salt!eter and "o!!eras. $f one were to use white lead withthe "olours that 2lass uarries are !ainted with, and if, afterwards, one were to 2i e them ase"ond rin2, should we not re"o er the se"ret formerl !ossessed of !aintin2 u!on 2lass withoutlosin2 an thin2 of its trans!aren" One mi2ht tr ( an e7!eriment. This se"ret whi"h we ha elost ma5es me re"all another se"ret that the #hinese re2ret the !ossess no lon2er. The on"e5new the art of !aintin2 on the sides of !or"elain !ie"es shes or other animals that "ould onl (eseen when the !ie"e was lled with some li uid. The "all this 5ind of !or"elain E a4ure !ut in the!ress,E (e"ause of the !osition in whi"h the (lue "olour is !la"ed. $ will 2i e an a""ount of whatthe ha e retained of this se"ret, in the ho!e that uro!eans ma (e a(le to "ontri e what the#hinese no lon2er 5now. For this method the !or"elain must (e er thin: when it was dr the !utthe "olour rather !lentifull , not on the outside of the !ie"e as is their usual "ustom, (ut on theinside. The 2enerall !ainted shes, as if the were more suita(le to (e re ealed when the "u!was lled with water. When the "olour had dried, the !ut a thin la er of dilute sli! u!on it. Thisla er !ressed the (lue (etween the two sheets of "la . When the la er was dr the !ut 2la4einside the !or"elain !ie"e, and some time afterwards the !ut it on the mould on the wheel. 8s ithad (een thi"5ened from the inside the !ared it down on the outside without 2oin2 as far as the"olour, and after that the di!!ed the outside of the !or"elain !ie"e in the 2la4e, and, all (ein2dr , it was red in the ordinar wa . This was e7"eedin2l deli"ate wor5, and re uired s5ill thata!!arentl the #hinese no lon2er !ossess. From time to time the tr to re"o er the art of thisma2i"al !aintin2, (ut in ain. One of them assured me a little while a2o that he had made freshtrials, and that lie had (een nearl su""essful.


8/18

Be that as it ma , it is !ossi(le to sa that e en now a (eautiful (lue "olour rea!!ears on !or"elainafter ha in2 (een lost for some time. When the "olour is rst !ainted it is of a !ale (la"5 : when itis dr and the 2la4e has (een !ut u!on it, it disa!!ears entirel , and the !or"elain seems uitewhite, the "olour (ein2 (uried under the 2la4e : (ut the re ma5es it a!!ear in all its (eaut ,almost in the same wa as the natural heat of the sun ma5es the most (eautiful (utter?ies, withall their tints, "ome out of their e22s. $ will add a "ir"umstan"e that $ must not for2et, i4.& that(efore the !or"elain is 2la4ed the !olish it, and remo e the sli2htest irre2ularities. For this!ur!ose the use a (rush made of er small feathers: the (rush (ein2 sli2htl di!!ed into thewater and !assed o er the !ie"e with a er li2ht tou"h. Kreat s5ill is re uired in !uttin2 the 2la4eon to the !or"elain so that it is not too thi"5, and that it is e enl s!read o er the !ie"e. For!or"elain !ie"es that are er thin and li2ht, the a!!l two sli2ht "oats of 2la4e. $f the "oats of2la4e are too thi"5 the thin sides of the essel "annot su!!ort them, and will instantl sin5 out ofsha!e. These two la ers are e ual to one ordinar la er of 2la4e su"h as is !ut on the thi"5er!ie"es. The rst "oatin2 is !ut on ( s!rin5lin2, the other ( immersion. The "u! is held in thehand from outside, slo!in2 o er the essel that "ontains the 2la4e, and with the other hand the!our inside as mu"h 2la4e as is needed to wet it e er where. This is done to a 2reat man "u!s,and when the rst ones are dr inside, the 2la4e is !ut on the outside as follows > The wor5man!uts one hand into the "u!, and, su!!ortin2 it with a little sti"5 under the middle of its foot, hedi!s it into the essel lled with 2la4e, and ui"5l draws it out a2ain.

Footnotes>

1. Hua p'i > literall '!ainters on the un red "la .'

*. 8 further !roof of the !redominan"e of (lue&and&white !ie"es amon2 the !or"elains rstim!orted into uro!e in lar2e uantities.

C. Sou 2la4es or "olour&e;e"ts are those o(tained ( (lowin2 the !i2ment throu2h a 2au4e,2enerall on to the red 2la4e.

. $s this some le2endar #hinese a""ount of the im!orted Dohammedan (lue of the fteenth"entur

H. /r. Bushell su22ests that this trans!arent white !e((le is nati e white arseni". $t must (e!ointed out that the a""ounts 2i en in the rst letter of the !re!aration of "olours are erim!erfe"t&the are lar2el "orre"ted in the se"ond letter @ . .A.

6. This is the famous an2&de&Boeuf 2la4e whi"h the #hinese re2arded as su"h a !re"iousse"ret, that Pere d' ntre"olles ne er o(tained a""urate information a(out it.

). 8nother !ie"e of !artial information whi"h is "orre"ted in the se"ond letter.

The Letters of Pre D'EntrecollesPart C


$ ha e (efore remar5ed that the foot of the !or"elain !ie"e was left solid: in fa"t, onl after it has(een 2la4ed and is dr do the !ut it on the wheel to hollow out the foot. 8fter that the !aint on ita little rin2, and often a #hinese letter, and when this !aintin2 is dr the 2la4e the !art that has

ust (een e7"a ated, and that is the last thin2 the do to it (efore it is ta5en to the rin2.

$ ha e (een sur!rised to see how a man "an (alan"e on his shoulders two lon2 and narrow !lan5son whi"h the !or"elain !ie"es are "arried, and that he 2oes li5e that throu2h se eral well&!o!ulated streets without (rea5in2 his ware. $t is true that the !eo!le "arefull a oid 5no"5in2

a2ainst him, howe er sli2htl , (e"ause the would (e o(li2ed to !a for the dama2e the had"aused, (ut it is astonishin2 that the "arrier himself "ontrols his ste!s and all the mo ements ofhis (od so well that he does not lose his (alan"e.

Where the furna"es are we nd another s"ene. $n a 5ind of esti(ule (efore the furna"e one sees


9/18

!iles of (o7es and "ases made of "la !re!ared for holdin2 the !or"elain. a"h ase of !or"elain,howe er small it ma (e, has its "ase : the !ie"es that ha e "o ers as well as those that ha enone&these "o ers are onl sli2htl atta"hed to the (ottom !art durin2 the rin2, so that theeasil "ome a!art ( a little (low. The small !or"elain !ie"es, li5e tea& and "ho"olate&"u!s, are!la"ed a 2ood man in one "ase. $n this o!eration the wor5man imitates ature, who to ri!en thefruit and (rin2 it to !erfe"tion, !uts it into a "ase so that the heat of the sun 2ets at it little (little, and its a"tion inside is not too mu"h interfered with ( the air that "omes from outsidedurin2 the fresh ni2hts.

These "ases @sa22arsA are lined inside with a 5ind of sand&down, for the are "o ered with 5ao&lindust as this sand does not sti"5 too mu"h to the foot of the !ie"e that is !ut on it. The (ed of sandis rst !ressed and 2i en the sha!e of the (ottom of the !or"elain !ie"e, whi"h does not itselftou"h the sides of its "ase. The to! of the "ase has no lid: a se"ond "ase, after the sha!e of the

rst and similarl lled with !or"elain, "omes on it, so that it "o ers it "om!letel without tou"hin2the !or"elain underneath. $n this wa the ll the 5iln with (i2 "ases all "ontainin2 !or"elain.

Than5s to these thi"5 eils the (eaut , and, if $ ma sa so, the "om!le7ion of the !or"elain !ie"eis not sun(urnt ( the heat of the re.

With re2ard to the small !ie"es of !or"elain whi"h are en"losed in the (i2 round "ases, ea"h one is!ut on a sau"er of "la a(out as thi"5 as two "rown !ie"es, and as wide as the foot of the !ie"eitself : 5ao&lin dust is also strewn o er these su!!orts. When the "ases are a little too wide, the donot !ut !or"elain !ie"es into the middle, (e"ause these would (e too remote from the sides, sothat the mi2ht fail in stren2th and o!en and sin5, and thus "ause dama2e to the whole !ile. $t iswell to 5now that these "ases are one&third of a foot in hei2ht, and that the are !artl lled (eforethe ha e (een red at all. Those that ha e (een red !re iousl and are still ser i"ea(le are lledentirel .

$ must not for2et the manner in whi"h the !ie"es of !or"elain are !la"ed in these "ases. Thewor5man does not tou"h the !ie"es dire"tl with his hands as he mi2ht (rea5 them, for nothin2 ismore fra2ile. +e ta5es them o; the !lan5s ( means of a little "ord. This "ord is atta"hed to a two&!ron2ed wooden for5 whi"h he holds with one hand, while with the other he holds the two ends ofthe strin2 that are "rossed or o!ened a""ordin2 to the si4e of the !ie"e: the "ord is !assed roundthe !ie"e, whi"h is then 2entl lifted and !la"ed in the "ase or on its little sau"er. 8ll this is done

with in"redi(le ui"5ness.$ ha e alread said that the (ottom of the furna"e is lled with 2ra el to the de!th of half a foot.

This 2ra el ser es to stead the !iles of "ases, whi"h in the middle of the furna"e rise to a hei2htof at least se en feet. The two (ottom "ases of ea"h !ile are left em!t , (e"ause the would (einsuJ"ientl red, and also (e"ause the 2ra el (ed !artl "o ers them. $n the same wa the "asewhi"h is !la"ed on the to! of the !ile is left em!t . The !iles in the middle of the furna"e are lledwith the nest !or"elain : at the far end the !la"e those !ie"es that are less ne, and near themouth the !la"e those that are er stron2, whi"h are "om!osed of e ual !arts of 5ao&lin and Pe&tun&tse, and whi"h ha e (een 2la4ed with a stone that is somewhat (la"5 or reddish, (e"ause this"lass has more su(stan"e in it than the other. The !iles of "ases are !la"ed "lose to2ether, and areunited ( !ie"es of "la !ut (etween them, at the to!, at the (ottom, and in the middle, (ut so

that a free !assa2e is left for the ?ame to !enetrate e er where e enl .1

er 5ind of "la is not e uall suita(le for ma5in2 the "ases : here the ha e three 5inds : a

"ommon ellow "la whi"h !redominates in uantit , a hard "la , and a er un"tuous "la . Thelast two 5inds of "la are mined in the winter in er dee! mines, where it is im!ossi(le to wor5 inthe summer.

Before the "ases are red the are ellowish : after the rin2 the are of a er dar5 red. For thesa5e of e"onom the ellow "la is lar2el used, and that is wh the "ases onl stand two or three

rin2s, after whi"h the (rea5 "om!letel . $f the are onl sli2htl "ra"5ed or s!lit, an osier rin2 isused to hold them to2ether: the rin2 (urns awa , (ut the "ase "an (e used this time without the!or"elain (ein2 in ured. The ha e to ta5e "are not to ll an o en entirel with new "ases : at least

half of them must ha e (een red (efore. These are !la"ed at the to! and the (ottom of the !iles,while in the middle the !la"e those that are newl made. $t is stated in the histor of Fou&lian2that the "ases were formerl red alone (efore the were used for rin2 !or"elain : no dou(t inthose da s the thou2ht less of the e7!ense and more of a !erfe"t !ie"e of wor5.


10/18

The rst heat it for a da and a ni2ht, thentwo men, who relie e ea"h other, 5ee! on !uttin2 in wood, of whi"h the (urn as mu"h as 1M0loads. $t is stated in the annals that formerl the used * 0 loads of wood, and twent more if theweather was rather rain , althou2h at that time the o ens were onl half as lar2e as at !resent.

The rst 5e!t u! a small re for se en da s and ni2hts, and on the ei2hth da the made a erer"e re. $t will "learl (e seen, therefore, that the old !or"elains must ha e had more su(stan"e

than the modern ones. Formerl the o(ser ed one thin2 that is ne2le"ted nowada s. When therin2 was nished the did not o!en the furna"e for ten da s for the (i2 !or"elain !ie"es, and for

e da s for the small ones. 8t the !resent time the wait, it is true, a few da s (efore the o!enthe furna"e and ta5e out the (i2 !ie"es, for without this !re"aution the would "ra"5, (ut the small!ie"es are ta5en out the followin2 mornin2 if the re has (een !ut out at the (e2innin2 of the!re ious ni2ht. When the !or"elain is (urnin2 hot the wor5man who !ulls it out "an onl tou"h it( !rote"tin2 his hands with the ends of a lon2 s"arf whi"h han2s round his ne"5. $ ha e (eensur!rised to hear that, after ha in2 (urned in one da as mu"h as 1M0 loads of wood, there wereno ashes left in the re!la"e the ne7t mornin2.

8fter all $ ha e said no one "an (e astonished that !or"elain is so dear in uro!e, and still less sowhen the hear that, (esides the 2reat !ro ts of the uro!ean and #hinese mer"hants, the wholeo en&full is hardl e er su""essful. ometimes it is uite lost, and when the o!en the furna"ethe nd the !or"elain !ie"es and the "ases redu"ed to a mass as hard as ro"5. either is it easto re2ulate the re, for the state of the weather instantl "han2es the a"tion of the re, the ualitof the material it a"ts u!on, and that of the wood whi"h 5ee!s it 2oin2. For one wor5man who 2etsri"h there are a hundred others who ruin themsel es, thou2h the still tr their fortunes further inthe ho!e that the ma sa e enou2h to (e"ome sho!5ee!ers. Doreo er, the !or"elain that is sentto uro!e is made after new models that are often e""entri" and diJ"ult to re!rodu"e: for theleast defe"t the are refused ( the mer"hants, and so the remain in the hands of the !otters,who "annot sell them to the #hinese, for the do not li5e su"h !ie"es.

$ ha e said that the diJ"ult of ma5in2 "ertain models sent from uro!e is one of the reasons whthe !ie"es are so "ostl . $t is almost im!ossi(le for the #hinese to ma5e some of the sha!es sent tothem from forei2n "ountries, althou2h the ma5e man thin2s at whi"h forei2ners are astonished,or that the would "onsider im!ossi(le. For instan"e, $ ha e seen a lar2e !or"elain lantern made in


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a sin2le !ie"e, throu2h whi"h a "andle lit u! the whole room: this !ie"e was ordered se en or ei2htears a2o ( the heir&a!!arent. C @ ee ima2e on leftA

The same Prin"e ordered also di;erent musi"al instruments, amon2stothers a 5ind of little or2an "alled tsen2, whi"h is a(out a foot hi2h and"ontains a(out fourteen !i!es, the melod of whi"h is a2reea(le enou2h:(ut e er attem!t to ma5e this failed. The were more fortunate inma5in2 ?utes and ?a2eolets, and another instrument, "alled Gun&lo, whi"his "om!osed of a set of little round, somewhat "on"a e, !lates, ea"h ofwhi"h 2i es a !arti"ular note. ine of these are hun2 in a frame indi;erent rows and !la ed u!on with small sti"5s li5e the dul"imer: therin2 li5e little (ells and are used to a""om!an other instruments or the

oi"es of sin2ers. The had, so the tell me, to ma5e man e7!eriments tond out the thi"5ness re uired and the "orre"t rin2 needed to !rodu"e all

the tones and 2et all the notes that are ne"essar for a "hord. $ hadthou2ht the must ha e the se"ret of insertin2 a little metal in the (od of

these !or"elain !ie"es to ar the note, (ut the ha e unde"ei ed me. Detal is so ill&ada!ted to"om(ine thin sla(s with a s!a"e (etween, oinin2 them to2ether onl ( "ross&(ars. These sla(sha e two holes !ier"ed at either end, so that the ma (e inserted in some "a(inet wor5 or u!onthe (a"5 of a "hair, where the loo5 er e;e"ti e.

The histor of #hin2&te&"hen s!ea5s of di;erent !ie"es, ordered ( the m!erors, that the !ottersha e tried in ain to ma5e. The father of the rei2nin2 m!eror ordered some (o7es, three and ahalf feet lon2 and two and a half feet hi2h, and the (ottom was to (e half a foot thi"5 and thesides a third of a foot. The wor5ed at these !ie"es for three "onse"uti e ears, and made nearltwo hundred e7am!les, not one of whi"h was su""essful. The same m!eror ordered some sla(sfor the front of an o!en 2aller : ea"h sla( was to (e three feet hi2h and two and a half feet wide,and half a foot thi"5. 8ll these, said the old !eo!le of #hin2&t*&"hin, "annot (e done, and theDandarins of this !ro in"e !resented a !etition to the m!eror su!!li"atin2 him to sto! this wor5.

The Dandarins, 5nowin2 how 2reat is the 2enius of uro!eans in in entions, ha e often as5ed meto !ro"ure from uro!e new and "urious desi2ns so that the mi2ht !resent somethin2 uni ue tothe m!eror. On the other hand, the #hristians (e2 me er stron2l not to !ro"ure su"h models,,

(e"ause the Dandarins "annot (e so easil "on in"ed as our mer"hants when the wor5men tellthem that somethin2 is im!ra"ti"a(le, and often the (astinado is li(erall administered (efore theDandarin will a(andon a s"heme that he thin5s ma (e of !ro t to him.

8s ea"h !rofession has its !arti"ular idol, and as /i init is "onferred here as easil as the ran5 of"ount or mar uis in some uro!ean "ountries, it is not sur!risin2 that the ha e a 2od of !or"elain.Pou&sa @the name of this idolA owes its ori2in to those desi2ns whi"h the wor5men nd itim!ossi(le to e7e"ute. The tell us that formerl the m!eror de"reed !ositi el that some!or"elain !ie"es should he made after a !attern whi"h he 2a e. +e was told se eral times that itwas im!ossi(le, (ut all these remonstran"es onl ser ed to e7"ite his desire. +is oJ"ers redou(ledtheir demands, and used all 5inds of se erities to the wor5!eo!le. These unfortunates s!ent alltheir mone and tried their utmost, (ut the re"ei ed onl (eatin2s in return. 8t last one of them,

in a moment of des!air, threw himself into the (urnin2 furna"e and was "onsumed in an instant. The !or"elain in that furna"e, so the sa , "ame out !erfe"tl (eautiful and to the satisfa"tion ofthe m!eror, who as5ed for nothin2 more. From that time the unfortunate man was re2arded as ahero, and (e"ame in "onse uen"e the idol that wat"hes o er the wor5ers in !or"elain. $ do not5now whether his ele ation has tem!ted an other #hinese to follow the same route with a iew toa similar honour.8s !or"elain has (een so hi2hl esteemed for man "enturies, one would wish to 5now how the!or"elain of the earliest times di;ers from that of our own da s, and what the #hinese themsel esthin5 a(out it. There is no dou(t that #hina has her anti uaries who 2reatl fa or old thin2s. The#hinaman himself is naturall !rone to res!e"t an"ient !rodu"tions, thou2h one nds those whodefend modern wor5: (ut !or"elain is not li5e an"ient medals, whi"h re eal the s"ien"e of ( 2onetimes. 8n"ient !or"elain ma (e de"orated with #hinese "hara"ters, (ut these do not denote anhistori"al !eriod, so that the "urious "an onl !refer them for somethin2 in the st le and the"olours. $ thin5 $ ha e heard it said, when $ was in uro!e, that !or"elain to (e !erfe"t must ha e(een (uried for a lon2 time in the 2round. This is a false o!inion whi"h the #hinese ridi"ule. Thehistor of #hin2&te&"hen, s!ea5in2 of the most (eautiful !or"elains of earlier times, sa s that itwas so mu"h sou2ht after that the furna"e was hardl o!ened (efore the mer"hants weredis!utin2 for the rst "hoi"e. $t "annot (e su!!osed from that that it had (een (uried. $t is true


12/18

that in di22in2 in the ruins of old (uildin2s and es!e"iall in "leanin2 out old, disused wells,(eautiful !ie"es of !or"elain are sometimes found whi"h ha e (een hidden there in times ofre olution. This !or"elain is (eautiful (e"ause at su"h times !eo!le would onl thin5 of hidin2 whatwas !re"ious, that the mi2ht re"o er it when the trou(les were o er. $f it is esteemed now it is not(e"ause it has a" uired an fresh (eaut in the heart of the earth, (ut (e"ause its old (eaut has(een !reser ed, and this alone is !ri4ed in #hina, where the 2i e lar2e sums for the smallestutensils of the "ommon !otter that was used ( the m!erors Gao and hun, who rei2ned se eral"enturies (efore the T'an2 d nast , durin2 whi"h !or"elain (e2an to (e used ( the m!erors. 8llthat the !or"elain a" uires in 2rowin2 old in the earth is a sli2ht "han2e in its "olourin2s or, if ou!refer, in its tint, whi"h shows that it is old. The same thin2 ha!!ens to mar(le or i or , (ut morereadil , (e"ause the 2la4e !re ents the moisture !enetratin2 so easil into !or"elain. $ "an sathis, that $ ha e found in old ruins !or"elain !ie"es that were !ro(a(l er old, (ut $ ha e notnoti"ed an thin2 s!e"ial a(out them. $f it is true that in 2rowin2 older the (e"ome more !erfe"t,the "ould not ha e (een li5e the !or"elain made nowada s when the left the hands of theirma5ers. What $ (elie e is, that formerl , as at the !resent time, there was !or"elain of all !ri"es.

The Dandarin of #hin2&te&"hen, who honours me with his friendshi!, ma5es his !atrons at the#ourt !resents of old !or"elain that he has the talent of ma5in2 himself. $ mean that he has foundthe art of imitatin2 old !or"elain, or at least that of a moderate anti uit : he em!lo s at this wor5a num(er of wor5!eo!le. The materials of these false anti ues is a ellow "la found in a !la"enear to #hin2&to&"hen "alled Da&an&shan @ addle&(a"5 +illA. The !ie"es are er thi"5, for a !latethat the Dandarin has 2i en me wei2hs as mu"h as ten ordinar ones. There is nothin2 s!e"ial inthe wor5manshi! of these !ie"es, onl that the are 2i en a 2la4e made from a ellow stone whi"his mi7ed with the ordinar 2la4e, the latter !redominatin2: this mi7ture 2i es the !or"elain a sea&2reen "olour. These false anti ues also resem(le 2enuine !ie"es in that the do not rin2 whenstru"5 and ma5e no hummin2 noise when held "lose to the ear. 8fter it has (een red it is (oiledfor some time in a er fat (roth, and after that it is !la"ed in the foulest sewer, where the lea eit for a month or more. When it "omes out of this sewer it !asses for (ein2 three or four "enturiesold, or at least of the !re"edin2 d nast of the Din2, when !or"elain !ie"es of this "olour andthi"5ness were hi2hl esteemed at #ourt.

The ha e (rou2ht me from the de(ris of a lar2e sho! a small !late that $ alue more hi2hl thanthe nest !or"elain !ie"es made a thousand ears a2o. On the (ottom of this !late is !ainted a

"ru"i 7 (etween the +ol Nir2in and t. %ohn : $ am told that formerl the used to e7!ort su"h!ie"es to %a!an, (ut that none of them ha e (een made for si7teen or se enteen ears. 8!!arentlthe #hristians of %a!an made use of this industr , durin2 their !erse"ution, to !ro"ure ima2es ofour sa"red m steries : this !or"elain !ie"e, mi7ed in the "ase with the rest, mi2ht ha e es"a!edthe sear"h of the enemies of our reli2ion. These !ious arti "es must ha e (een dis"o ered in the"ourse of time and rendered of no a ail ( a stri"ter sear"h, and that is no dou(t the reason whthe ha e "eased to ma5e this 5ind of ware at #hin2&te&"hen.

@The letter "on"ludes with some 2eneral remar5s whi"h need not (e 2i en here, (ut we "annotrefrain from uotin2 the nal senten"es.=

#hin2&te&"hen owes to the li(eralit of D. le Dar uis de Bruise a "hur"h whi"h has a numerous

"on2re2ation, in"reasin2 "onsidera(l e er ear. Da Kod !our +is (enedi"tions more and moreo er these fresh faithful> $ re"ommend them to our !ra ers. $f the were hel!ed ( someassistan"e to in"rease the num(er of "ate"hists the !eo!le of #hina would (e ena(led to learn thatnot onl the lu7ur and "u!idit of uro!eans ma5e them send their mone as far as #hin2&te&"hen, (ut that there are 4ealous !ersons who ha e no(ler intentions than those who (rin2 fromthere su"h fra2ile ewels.

Footnotes>

1. The !or"elain o en or furna"e des"ri(ed ( Pere d' ntre"olles is that whi"h is used in #hinato this da : it is !ra"ti"all a dee! hori4ontal re er(erator furna"e : a similar 5iln has e en(een used in uro!e, es!e"iall in Kerman , (ut has almost entirel (een a(andoned for

man ears now on a""ount of the une en wa in whi"h su"h 5ilns re.*. B this he must mean the "olours of the 2la4es, or of the under2la4e "olours, for no others

are red in these furna"es.


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C. This heir&a!!arent was the fourth son of the m!eror 'an2&hsi. +e"ame to the throne under the title of Gun2&"hen2 in 1)CH, and in the ne7t "ha!ter it will (eseen what attention he !aid to the !or"elain manufa"tured in his rei2n.

The Letters of Pre d'Entrecolles IIBein2 the rst detailed a""ounts on the manufa"ture of #hinese !or"elain to rea"h the O""ident.


The se"ond letter is dated from #hin2&te&"hen itself, on the *Hth of %anuar , 1)**, and wetranslate its essentials>

+owe er mu"h trou(le $ ha e ta5en in informin2 m self as to the wa in whi"h the #hinese ma5e!or"elain, $ am far from thin5in2 that $ ha e entirel e7hausted the su( e"t. Gou will see ( the newo(ser ations $ send ou that fresh resear"hes ha e 2i en me fresh 5nowled2e. These o(ser ations$ will unfold to ou without an order, ust as $ ha e !ut them down on !a!er as $ ha e hado!!ortunit , either in 2oin2 throu2h the wor5sho!s and instru"tin2 m self with m own e es, or (as5in2 di;erent uestions of the #hristians who are o""u!ied in the manufa"ture.

$. 8s 2old on !or"elain wears awa from time to time and loses mu"h of its lustre, it ma (erestored ( moistenin2 the !or"elain with "lear water, and then ru((in2 the 2ildin2 with an a2ate,thou2h one must (e "areful to ru( alwa s in the same dire"tion, sa from ri2ht to left.

$$. The ed2es of !or"elain !ie"es are es!e"iall su( e"t to "hi! o;: the #hinese stren2then them soas to o( iate this in"on enien"e ( mi7in2 with, the 2la4e some (am(oo "har"oal. The ed2e the!or"elain !ie"es with this mi7ture when the are alread dr , !uttin2 them on a wheel for the!ur!ose : afterwards the !ut the 2la4e on the ed2e as well as on the rest of the !ie"e, and after

rin2 the ed2es are ust as white. 8s uro!eans ha e no (am(oo, $ thin5 the mi2ht use in its!la"e willow&"har"oal, or still (etter that of elder, whi"h somewhat a!!roa"hes (am(oo. $t must (enoted that (efore the (am(oo is redu"ed to "har"oal, the 2reen s5in is remo ed, (e"ause the sa

that the ashes of this s5in ma5es the !or"elain !ie"es (urst in the o en. $t should also (e notedthat the wor5men must (e "areful not to tou"h the !or"elain with 2reas or oil hands: the !la"ethat had (een tou"hed would "ra"5 infalli(l in the rin2.

$$$. !ea5in2 of the "olours, $ mentioned that there are red ones that are (lown @sou A, and $ ha ee7!lained how to ma5e this "olour, (ut $ do not remem(er ha in2 said that there are (lue sou!ie"es, whi"h are easier to ma5e. o dou(t !eo!le will ha e seen some of these !ie"es in uro!e.Our wor5!eo!le a2ree that if e7!ense were no o( e"t, it would (e !ossi(le to (low 2old or sil er onto the !or"elain, su"h as those that ha e a (la"5 or (lue 2round, so as to !rodu"e a de"oration of2old and sil er rain. This 5ind of !or"elain, whi"h would (e in a new st le, would surel !lease!eo!le.Kla4e "an (e (lown in the same wa as the red "olour. 8 little while a2o the made for the

m!eror !ie"es that were so thin and ne that the had to !ut them on "otton wool, (e"ause thehad no other means of handlin2 the !ie"es without 2reat ris5 of (rea5in2 them. $t was not !ossi(leto di! these !ie"es into the 2la4e, so the 2la4e was (lown on, and the !ie"es entirel "oated in thiswa .$ ha e noti"ed that, in (lowin2 the (lue "olour, the wor5!eo!le are "areful to lose as little as!ossi(le of the "olour. The ta5e the !re"aution to !la"e the ase on a !edestal, and under the!edestal the !ut a lar2e !ie"e of !a!er, whi"h "an (e used for some time. When the "olour thatfalls on the !a!er is dr it is 2athered to2ether with a little (rush, so that nothin2 is lost.


14/18

$N. The ha e re"entl found a fresh material t to (e used in the "om!osition of !or"elain: it is astone or a s!e"ies of "hal5, whi"h is "alled +ua& hih, whi"h the #hinese do"tors also use to ma5e adrau2ht, whi"h the sa is deter2ent, a!erient, and "oolin2. The men who wor5 in !or"elain ha ethou2ht of usin2 this stone in the !la"e of the ao&lin s!o5en of in m last letter. $t ma (e thatsome !la"e in uro!e ma (e found whi"h su!!lies this stone +ua& hih, e en if there is no ao&lin.$t is "alled ( this name (e"ause it is somewhat 2lutinous, and in a wa li5e soa!.Q Por"elain madewith +ua& hih is rare, and is mu"h dearer than the other. $t has an e7tremel ne 2rain, and withre2ard to the wor5 of the (rush, if it (e "om!ared with ordinar !or"elain, it is li5e ellum"om!ared with ordinar !a!er. Doreo er, this !or"elain is so li2ht as to sur!rise one who has (eena""ustomed to handle other !or"elains: it is also mu"h more fra2ile than the "ommoner 5ind, andit is diJ"ult to sei4e the !ro!er moment of its rin2. ome do not use +ua& hih to ma5e the (od ,(ut "ontent themsel es with ma5in2 a 5ind of thin 2lue with it, into whi"h the di! the !or"elainwhen it is dr , so that it is "oated with a la er of this material (efore it re"ei es the "olour or the2la4e, and in this wa the o(tain a "ertain de2ree of (eaut . When the +ua& hih is mined it is rstwashed with water to "lear awa the ellowish "la with whi"h it is "oated, and it is then !re!aredin the same wa as ao&lin. $ am assured that !or"elain "an (e made of these su(stan"es alonewithout an addition, (ut one of m "on erts, who has made this !or"elain, tells me that he mi7edei2ht !arts of +ua& hin with two !arts of Pe&tun&tse. $ ha e also (een told that if the were to !utmore, than two !arts of Pe&tun&tse and ei2ht !arts of +ua& hih, the !or"elain would sin5 in the re(e"ause it would not (e rm enou2h. $t is e times the !ri"e of ao&lin, so that this 5ind of!or"elain must (e dearer than the "ommon 5ind. The "an also tra"e desi2ns with this material,

usin2 it as a sli! to !aint u!on the !or"elain !ie"es, and when the !aintin2 is dr the !ie"es are2la4ed. 8fter rin2, the desi2ns are of a whiteness di;erent to that of the !or"elain itself: it seemsli5e a thin a!our s!read o er the surfa"e. The white of this +ua& hih is 5nown as i or white.Q

N. /esi2ns are also !ainted on !or"elain with hih&5ao: t as well as with +ua& hih, whi"h 2i esanother "ast to it : (ut the hih&5ao has this !e"uliarit , that (efore it is !re!ared it has to (eroasted in the o en, and after that it is treated in the same wa as +ua& hih or ao&lin. This hih&5ao "annot (e used to ma5e the (od of !or"elain, and u! to now the ha e onl found thematerial +ua& hih that "an ta5e the !la"e of ao&lin, and 2i e rmness to the !or"elain.

N$. $ ha e not s!o5en of a 5ind of 2la4e "alled Tau"hin, that is, (urnished&2old 2la4e. $ should (emore in"lined to "all it (ron4e, "o;ee&"oloured or dead&leaf "oloured 2la4e. This 2la4e is a new

in ention.R To ma5e it the ta5e "ommon ellow "la and 2i e it the same treatment as Pe&tun&tse, and then the use it in a li uid state li5e ordinar 2la4e. This ?uid ellow "la is rst mi7edwith !owdered Pe&tun&tse and some of the ashes of lime and fern. The !ro!ortions of thesein2redients are aried a""ordin2 as the intend the "olour to (e dar5er or li2hter. The tried toma5e a mi7ture of 2old&leaf with 2la4e and !owdered ?int, whi"h the a!!lied in the same wa asthe red 2la4e, (ut this e7!eriment was unsu""essful, and the ha e found that the (urnished&2old2la4e ust mentioned is more ele2ant and more (rilliant. There was a time when the made "u!sthat had a 2olden 2la4e outside, with the !urest white 2la4e inside: sin"e then the ha e ado!tedanother method, and on the "u! or ase that the intend to 2la4e with this (urnished&2old 2la4e,the atta"h to the ases in one or two !la"es, sha!ed !ie"es of moistened !a!er, and after the(rown "oatin2 is a!!lied, the !a!er is ta5en o; and the reser ed white !anels are !ainted with adesi2n in red or (lue "olour. When the !ie"e is dr it is "oated with the ordinar 2la4e, either ((ein2 (lown or ( an other method. ometimes these s!a"es are left with a (lue or (la"5 2roundon whi"h desi2ns in 2old are a!!lied after the rst rin2, (ut in this st le one "an ima2ine mandi;erent "om(inations.

N$$. The ha e shown me this ear for the rst time a 5ind of !or"elain that is now in o2ue, whi"his oli e&2reen in "olour, and to whi"h the 2i e the name Lun2 #h'uan.Q $ ha e seen some thatwere "alled #h'in2&5uo, the name of a fruit er li5e our oli es. This "olour is o(tained ( mi7in2se en "u!s of the a(o e&mentioned T4u&"hin 2la4e with four "u!s of stone 2la4e, and two "u!s, ortherea(outs, of lime and. fern&ash 2la4e with one "u! of !owdered ?int: all these (ein2 mi7ed inthe sli! state. The addition of the ?int sli! !rodu"es little eins in the !or"elain. When this isa!!lied ( itself the !or"elain is er fra2ile, and does not sound when it is stru"5, (ut when it ismi7ed with the other 2la4e the !or"elain, althou2h "o ered with a networ5 of eins, is no morefra2ile than usual.

N$$$. The shinin2 (la"5 or mirror&(la"5 2la4e is o(tained ( di!!in2 the !or"elain in a ?uid mi7ture"om!osed of the !re!ared (lue "olour. $t is not ne"essar to em!lo for this !ur!ose the nest(lue, (ut it must (e used to "onsidera(le stren2th, and mi7ed with the 2la4e used for the(urnished&2old 2la4e as well as with the ordinar 2la4e. This mi7ture is a 2la4e in itself, and in


15/18

rin2 the ware the ta5e "are to !la"e it in the middle of the o en, and not near the ault wherethe rin2 is most a"ti e.

$S. $ was mista5en when $ said in m !re ious letter that the red 2la4e "alled Gu&li&hun2 was madewith the red "olour from "o!!eras, su"h as is used for !aintin2 red "olour on the red white 2la4e.

This red 2la4e is made from 2ranulated red "o!!er, and the !owder of a "ertain stone or ?int thatis a little reddish in "olour,Q !ounded to2ether in a mortar, and mi7ed with a (o 's urine and withthe ordinar white 2la4e. $ ha e not (een a(le to learn the !re!aration of these in2redients, andthose who 5now this se"ret are er "areful not to di ul2e it. The mi7ture is a!!lied to !or"elainthat has not (een red, and no other 2la4e is ne"essar , (ut the ha e to (e "areful durin2 the

rin2 that the red "olour does not run to the (ottom of the ase. $ am assured that for this red2la4e the use no Pe&tun&tse in the !or"elain !aste, (ut the em!lo with the ao&lin a ellow "la!re!ared in the same manner as Pe&tun&tse. $t is li5el that su"h a "la is more suita(le for

de elo!in2 this !arti"ular "olour.


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afterwards redu"in2 it to an im!al!a(le !owder.Q To ma5e the white "olour the mi7 thirt &three!arts of this white !owder with 1oo !arts of white lead, and a!!l it with !lain water. 8 dar5. 2reen"olour is made ( mi7in2 to2ether one hundred !arts of white lead, thirt &three !arts of !owdered?int, and ei2ht !arts of "o!!er s"ales, the s"um whi"h forms on the surfa"e of "o!!er when it ismelted, and this s"um has to (e "arefull 2round and washed to remo e from it an 2ranulated"o!!er that is mi7ed with it. 8 ellow is made from a mi7ture of one hundred !arts of white lead,thirt &three !arts of !owdered ?int, ei2hteen !arts of !ure o7ide of iron, or of the !ure red madefrom "o!!eras : thou2h another wor5man tells me that he uses twent & e !arts of !rimiti e red. t8 dar5 (lue "olour with a tin2e of iolet is made ( mi7in2 one hundred !arts of white lead, thirt &three !arts of !owdered ?int, and o'* !arts of a4ure (lue,Q thou2h $ am told ( another wor5manthat it re uires o& !arts of this a4ure (lue. 8 er "lear 2reen "alled water&2reen is made (mi7in2 one !art of the dar5 2reen "olour with two !arts of the white "olour, while a mi7ture of two!arts of dar5 2reen and one !art of ellow !rodu"es a ellowish 2reen whi"h resem(les a sli2htlfaded leaf. To ma5e a (la"5 !i2ment the dilute the a4ure (lue lar2el with water and mi7 it with alittle 2elatin. When this "olour is !ainted on it loo5s (la"5, and the (la"5 !arts are "o ered withwhite, whi"h in"or!orates with the (la"5 durin2 the se"ond re, ust as the 2la4e is in"or!oratedwith the under2la4e (lue in "oniron !or"elains.

There is another "olour "alled TsiuI from whi"h the ma5e a dee! iolet "olour. There is somefound in #anton, and some "omes from Pe5in2, (ut the latter is mu"h the (est. Li5e the other"olours ust des"ri(ed this is used onl on the !or"elain whi"h is re& red.


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SN. $ said in m !re ious letter that when the !ainted !or"elains were !ut intothe 5iln for the se"ond rin2, that the smaller ones were !la"ed into the lar2er,and that the were arran2ed li5e that in the 5iln. To this $ must now add thatthe ha e to (e "areful that the !or"elain !ie"es do not tou"h one another in!la"es where the ha e (een !ainted, or the !ie"es would (e s!oiled. The wor5!eo!le arran2e the !ie"es in the followin2 wa >&The ll the (ottom of the 5ilnwith the !or"elain !ie"es, and then the "o er these with lids made of thesame "la from whi"h the sides of the 5iln are made, or e en with !ie"es of(ro5en sa22er, for in #hina e er thin2 is made use of: on this "o er the laanother ran2e of these !or"elain !ie"es, and so on u! to the to! of the 5iln.

SN$. $ was not er well informed when $ said in m rst letter that there"o2nised that the !ainted or 2ilt !or"elains are suJ"ientl red when thesee the 2old and "olours shine out in all their (ri2htness. $ ha e sin"e learntthat the "olours onl re eal themsel es after the re red !or"elain !ie"es ha ehad time to "ool. The ud2e that these !ie"es are suJ"ientl red when,loo5in2 throu2h the to! hole the see that all the !ie"es are red down to the(ottom, and, throu2h the re that surrounds them, the "an distin2uish oneform from another. Li5ewise when the !ainted !or"elains ha e lost the

une enness where the "olour has (een !iled on, and the "olours ha e sun5 well into the 2la4e.

With re2ard to the !or"elains that are red in the (i2 o ens, the ud2e that the rin2 is !erfe"t @rAwhen the ?ame that "omes out from the to! is no lon2er red, (ut is white: @*A when loo5in2throu2h the holes the see that the sa22ers are uite red: @CA after ha in2 o!ened one of the to!sa22ers and ta5en out a !ie"e of !or"elain the nd when it is "ool that the 2la4e and "olours areas the should (e: and nall @ A when in loo5in2 throu2h the to! of the o en the see the 2ra elat the (ottom is all 2litterin2. $t is ( these si2ns that the wor5man ud2es if the !or"elain !ie"esare red to !erfe"tion.

SN$$. When the wish to "o er a ase entirel with (lue, the use the (lue mineral !re!ared anddiluted in water to the ri2ht "onsisten" , and then the di! the ase into it. For the !owder&(luethe use the most (eautiful a4ure !re!ared in the wa that $ ha e alread e7!lained. This is (lownon the ase, and when it is dr the "o er it with the ordinar 2la4e, or with 2la4e mi7ed with

!owdered ?int if the want the 2la4e to (e "ra"5led. #ertain wor5!eo!le tra"e 2ures on thisa4ure&(lue with the !oint of a lon2 !in. The !in ma5es as man little dots in the dr a4ure as isne"essar to re!resent the 2ure, and after that the 2la4e is a!!lied. When su"h a !ie"e is redthe desi2n seems to (e !erformed in the st le of a miniature.

SN$$$. The !ie"es on whi"h one sees em(ossed ?owers, dra2ons and su"h&li5e thin2s, are not sodiJ"ult to manufa"ture as one mi2ht thin5. The desi2ns are rst tra"ed with a 2ra er on the (odof the ase, and then the 2round a(out it is "ut awa so as to form the relief, and afterwards the!ie"e is 2la4ed.

S$S. When $ s!o5e in m rst letter of the wa in whi"h the a4ure "olour is !re!ared, $ omitted to2i e three !arti"ulars, whi"h are worth of attention. First, (efore it is (uried in the 2ra el on the

(ed of the o en, where it is to (e roasted, it is well washed to remo e the "la that adheres to it.e"ond, it must (e !ut into a well&luted !or"elain "ru"i(le. Third, when it is roasted it is (ro5en u!,sifted, and !ut into a 2la4ed essel: (oilin2 water is then !oured o er it and well stirred. The s"umthat ?oats on the to! is remo ed, and the !owder is washed as mu"h as ma (e ne"essar . Thewashed !aste is then thrown into a mortar, where it is 2round for a "onsidera(le time. The ha eassured me that the a4ure is found in "oal&mines or in the red "la , whi"h o""urs in thenei2h(ourhood of these "oal&mines. ometimes fra2ments are found on the surfa"e of the earth,and that is a sure si2n that more ma (e o(tained ( di22in2. $t o""urs in small !ie"es not (i22erthan the lar2e n2er, (ut ?at and not rounded.Q The ordinar mineral is fairl "ommon, (ut the

ne 5inds are er rare, and it is not eas to distin2uish them ( their a!!earan"e. The "an onl(e !ro ed ( e7!erien"e. $f 2ood a4ure&(lue or enamel&(lue "ould (e su!!lied ( uro!e, a

alua(le trade mi2ht (e done with #hin2&te&"hen in er little (ul5, and the would e7"han2e for ittheir most (eautiful !or"elains.

SS. The ha e attem!ted to ma5e (la"5 desi2ns on !or"elain ases with the nest #hinese in5,(ut this attem!t has (een unsu""essful, for when the !or"elain is red it turns out uite white./ou(tless the !arti"les of this (la"5 ha e not enou2h su(stan"e, so that the are dis!ersed ( thea"tion of re, or the ha e not the !ower of !enetratin2 the la er of 2la4e so as to !rodu"e a


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di;eren"e.Q $ nish these remar5s ( re"ommendin2 to our !ra ers the #hur"h of #hin2&te&"hen,whi"h "ontains a 2reat num(er of wor5ers in !or"elain.

Q $t is !rett "lear from this where so man of the n2lish !otters of the ei2hteenth "entur , atBristol, Li er!ool, Wor"ester, and elsewhere, 2ot the idea of usin2 soa!&stone.Q The latest o!inion is that the mineral used ( the #hinese !otters under the name of +ua& hih isnot soa!stone at all, (ut an im!ure 5ao&lin "ontainin2 a lar2e !ro!ortion of white mi"a. @ ee !. 1*.At K !sum or sul!hate of lime.I /r. Bushell !oints out that the worth father must (e mista5en here as he has found this 2la4ere"orded in Din2 times. $t is the well&5nown fond la ue of Fren"h writers.

This is /r. Bushell's modernisation of Pere d' ntre"olles' word, Lon2&tsi em.Et This e identl refers to a 5ind of "ra"5led "eladon !or"elain, made inimitation of the Lun2&"h'uan "eladons of un2 times.Q u"h an o""urren"e as this ma ha e furnished the startin2 !oint of the !or"elains made inimitation of a2ate and other stones some twent ears after the date of this letter. @ ee !. t4M.AQ /r. Bushell !oints out that this most trans!arent !owder used for the white is !ro(a(l nati ewhite arseni". t The !rimiti e red a!!ears to (e a ne o7ide of iron, !ro(a(l a !ounded hematite.

The a4ure (lue is the im!ure man2aniferous o7ide of "o(alt used as the under2la4e (lue of the#hinese.

t For !aintin2 on the 2la4e.

f /r. Bushell sa s this must (e a mis!rint for Ts'ui, whi"h is the name of a (lue 2lass used in #hina( enamellers on metals.

Q These !or"elains were either sin2le&"olours of tur uoise, !ur!le iolet, or ellow 2la4e&or were!ie"es !ainted in "oloured 2la4es after the st le of the earliest Din2 !ainted !ie"es @see !. 66 andPlate A.Q This is an earth mineral 5nown as Ewad,E "ontainin2 man2anese and "o(alt mi7ed with "la . $nits unre ned state it onl "ontains fromH U to ro 2 of "o(alt o7ide.

Q $t was onl at a later !eriod that the #hinese !rodu"ed desi2ns !ainted in a 2re ish (la"5, so thatthe loo5 as if the had (een drawn inse!ia or #hinese&in5.

Q /r. Bushell ma5es the e7"ellent su22estion that this is 8meth stine Vuart4 : thou2h Pered' ntre"olles sa s that a #hristian do"tor told him the stone was a s!e"ies of alum, whi"h wasem!lo ed in medi"ine.

the letters of père d'entrecolles

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