The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-09-12
CERAMIC COLORS.
A FEW POINTS CONCERNING THEIR
ORIGIN AND USE.

Each Shade of Blue Has Its Own Partic-
ular Application Among the Potters of
perial Color.
The origin of the ceramic colors, their
much interest and we'll worthy the study
of potters as well as professional and
amateur decorators. In Chinese ceram-
les the colors are divided into families,
and many are curiously symbolical,
owing their origin often to some peculiar
or remarkable occurrence of a past age
1t is well known by every one that blue
has always been a favorite color with
the Chinese potter or decorator, but that
each shade of blue has it's own particu-
lar use and significance which give it
its name is an unfamiliar fact. The
same is true, in less degree, however,
of the green's and other colors.
The brilliancy of the blues invented
during the Tsin dynasty, about 265
A. D., is remarkable, and is the first
color demonstrating any great success
after the celadOns. One of these blues,
called "blue of the sky after rain" be-
came very popular, and by the command
of the emperor was adopted for every
article of porcelain used in the palace
The date of its adoption as the royal
color is placed at 954, but it is not known
exactly how long this particular shade
continued in exclusive use in the impe-
rial household. 1t is assumed, however,
that it remained in favor through sew
eral generations of emperors
Again in 1866 blue was adopted for
the royal porcelains, the shade being of
deeper hue. Previous to this date a
certain rich, deep blue became very IA
nous. The first porcelains brought into
Europe were blue and white, the blue
being in various shades The blues of
that time are nearly all of Chinese orr
gin, many of which have never been ex-
celled and rarely approached by Euro
pean chemists. The Chinese blues are
also in greater variety than the blues of
any other nation; one of them is re-
markable for its rarity, appearing quite
green when contrasted with other blues,
but an unmistakable blue when con-
trasted with green.
The green's produced by the Chinese
about the year 600 were particularly
noted, but it is not recorded which one
was the special favorite of any dynasty.
1t is known, however, that green was the
exclusive imperial color for over 200
years, and that it was not confined to
porcelains, but obtained in everything
connected with the court. Some beauti-
full specimens of porcelains of this period,
decorated in the finest green's, are still
in existence, and their value is almost
beyond price.
The porcelains of each family or indi-
vidual bore the signs of rank to which it
belonged, and colors or shades of color
selected by them were kept exclusively
for their use. Some Of these colors bear
names that seem ludicrous, but are new
ertheless appropriate. One is red, called
the 'color of precious stone' probably
the ruby; another red, "color of Japan
pear blossom;" violet, "color of egg
plant" "color of mules liver" "color of
horses lung" etc.
Owing to the unreliability of gold col
ors in firing they have been subject of
continual study and experiment with
both the chemist and decorator, but after
all these centuries Of research the color
remains as unreliable as ever, meanwhile
remaining the most charming and fasci-
mating of all the mineral colors CThe
colors designated as the rose family come
under the head of gold colors, and in
clude all the rich rose, crimson and vio-
let shades.) The date of the discovery of
these colors is not known. Amateurs of
the present day are disappointed with
failures in the gold colors; they are
either dull and lusterless, or quite purple
after firing, and, indeed, they never seem
to be twice alike.
This is probably why carmine is con-
sidered a test color, and the amateur
who can successfully use it is said to
have conquered the mysteries of mineral
colors. The popularity of the gold col
ors is not confined to the Oriental; they
have always been prime favorites with
all nations. Our rose Pompadour and
rose Du Barry prove the estimation in
which they were held at Sevres in the
time of these two women, from which
they derive their names, and evidence of
their popularity in all the world is as old
as the history of the decoration of &C.
ramics.
Probably the difficulty of procuring
satisfactory results with colors of the
rose family accounts for the value of old
specimens decorated with these colors.
The royal color of China at one time
was brilliant yellow known as egg vel
low, which still continues to be the adj
miration of connoisseurs and the special
ambition of amateurs. It is not certain
that this color was at any time devoted
to the exclusive use of the imperial
household, but it is assumed that it was.
The composition of many of the enamel
colors, by which is understood all over
glaze colors except the matt colors, is
secret carefully guarded and transmitted
as an inheritance from father to son, but
in work by M. Julian, an eminent
authority on eastern ceramics, many val
liable receipts for the manufacture of
mineral colors are given, which are of
the greatest interest in the light of
education. Undoubtedly the Chinese,
in the matter of mineral colors and the
decoration of porcelains, stand high
above any other nation, and there is
good reason for it,
The manufacture of pottery has been
one of the most important industries of
that country for upward of 1900 years,
and every ruler during that time has
given special encouragement to the deco
ration of pottery, SO great that in certain
periods such thing as an uncolored or
undecorated piece of pottery was the