Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...SIMILAR FIGURE, representing the Lion of Korea, a perforated yellow ball substituted for the cub. From Messrs. Duveen Brothers' Galleries. said to have been copied by the porcelain painters from old and valuable pictures, the work of celebrated artists, and form some of the best subjects on blue and white. Interiors and domestic scenes are, however, the most interesting; they seem to take us right into the life of the people, or rather perhaps into a fairyland peopled with graceful ladies and happy children, flowering trees and tempting rocks, a land of sunlight and blue atmosphere, that "land before perspective" of Charles Lamb, whose charm will never fail. Landscapes are equally charming, with their mountains, seas and islands, rivers, with boats and fisherfolk, rocks and bridges, on which may be seen mandarins or other figures, trees, flowering shrubs, and bamboos in endless and interesting variety. Sometimes landscapes form the background in figure pieces, and at others they are the sole design. Another form of decoration is that in which trees alone are used; the fir tree will be frequently found as the centre motif in some fine plates with little other decoration except a border. (Plate VIII.) A conventional design known as the "Ogre" pattern is copied from old bronzes; it forms patches of blue on a white ground, and in the centre of the design can be seen hideous faces and the eye of the "ogre." Very beautiful vases have arabesque designs as sole ornament, which are arranged to point downwards from the neck and upwards from the base, and are sometimes shaped like a leaf, whilst at others they are of Jooe-head outline. These designs of conventional flowers, arabesques, and many others, are too numerous...
