The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-03
RARE CHINA THAT Is WORTH
FULLY ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD
From the Savannah News.

From the Savannah News.
If you happen to possess a cup or
saucer with a five-claw green dragon
a sixteen-petaled chrysanthemum, though
perhaps you are unaware of the fact, you
have a treasure that is worth its weight
in gold. But, however richly decorated
the piece of porcelain may otherwise be,
unless the dragon has five claws and the
chrysanthemum sixteen petals no more
and no less, 1t has no value in one partic-
ular respect.
Now, the reason why a dragon with
five claws or a chrysanthemum or six
teen petals makes a very ordinary look
ing cup or saucer worth so much is this:
A green dragon with five claws is the
crest of the Chinese Emperor, and 1t Is
only porcelain manufactured for his spe-
cial use that is permitted to bear that
device. Indeed, in China the severest
penalties are enforced against anyone
even found with such porcelain in his
possession.
For similar reason search through
all the bric-a-brac stores in the United
States for little cup with a sixteen
petaled chrysanthemum on 1t, and the
chances are a thousand to one you will
be disappointed. Cups, bowls and sau-
GERS you will. of course, find in plenty
with chrysanthemums them, but on
close inspection you will discover the
flower may have almost any number of
petals but sixteen. AS a five-claw drag
on is the crest of the Chinese Emperor,
so a sixteen-petaled chrysanthemum is
that of his imperial majesty of Japan,
and porcelain SO decorated is also for
his use only. To prevent any of this por-
celain from reaching the outside market
the greatest precautions are taken, both
in the factory and at the palace. All
pieces not in use, or rejected at the fac
tory as imperfect. are at once destroyed
by officers appointed for that purpose.
But in spite of penalties and precautions.
a few pieces of both do occasionally es-
cape official vigilance, and these are like
ly to be found in the most unexected
places. There, for instance Is the story
Of five-claw green dragon saucer which
was picked up at a sale for less than two
cents.
a job lot at an auction on account of an
old pistol which was offered with sew
eral other apparently worthless objects.
But in the lot was a saucer with a
single green dragon on the inside sur
face. 1t was rather quaint looking
piece, but as the curio hunter explained
subsequently, he was not particularly in
terested in porcelains, and all the time
would have readily made it present to
any one for the asking. He figured out
that it cost him less than cents.
In year or two the owner decided to
dispose of his curios by auction. AS
his collection was we'll known, many peo-
pie came to inspect 1t before the sale.
He was then not little surprised to be
asked by an apparently much interested
person whether the saucer would be in
cluded in the sale, as it was not entered
on the catalogue. The saucer had been
entirely overlooked, but 1t was finally
decided to include 1t in the sale, though
1t was not supposed the piece would bring
10 cents.
So, after the important numbers had
been disposed of the auctioneer put up
the saucer, with few preliminary facet
ious remarks. He asked If any one would
bid cents for the saucer. and cents
was promptly offered, Then came a bid
of % cents, capped by another of 50, and,
between two competitors. the price rose
brislSly to s1s. At s2S it was finally
knocked down. to the establishment of