The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-23
FIne speeImen Of Porcelain Ware.

that of the fourteenth to the seven
teenth centuries, and although since
that time many fine specimens have
been produced, they are mainly
copied in design and treatment from
the period above referred to, and
those which are of entirely modern
conception can in no way bear COM
parison with the earlier specimens.
Amongst the varieties Of Japanese
porcelain most familiar to collectors
is that generally known as Kaga, the
first specimens of which were made
In the province Of Kanga towards
the close of the seventeenth century.
The factories were erected at Kutani,
or the Seven Valleys, where the clay
was discovered from which the porce-
lain was manufactured The body is
of a fine texture we'll decorated, fed
and gold being the prAdeminating col
ors, and on a really good sample Of
this ware the work is probably finer
than that of any other kind Of porce-
lain manufactured BY the Japanese.
Specimens, however, are frequently
met with in which, whilst the decora.
tion is all that can be desired. the
porcelain Is not quite up to the high
standard Of the famous Kutani fac
tories, matter readily understood
when it Is explained that, owing to the
demand created for this ware, numer.
GUS specimens were manufactured in
neighboring provinces and sent to Ku.
tani to be decorated. Here again I'm.
fortunately, as in other well known
manufactures Of porcelain and faience
the growing demand for specimens at
popular prices has caused large fac.
tories to be opened elsewhere to sup
ply the same. They are, however,
mostly crude specimens, and except in
the matter of coloring, which is fairly
closely followed, they in no way bear
comparison with even inferior speci-
mems of the art they are supposed to
represent. At one time these were to
be obtained chiefly at the fancy re-
positories and drapery establishments,
but Of recent years, unfortunately, un.
scrupulous curio dealers have dis
posed OF large quantities, the pur-
chaser fondly believing that he has
at last obtained genuine specimen.
Another, and one Of the earliest arts
Of the Japanese, is lacquer ware, and
in this they far surpass all other
races. excepting perhaps the Chinese
Great taste is displayed in the de
signs, which have the unconventional
characteristics SO dear to the Jana
nese, and also in the colorlng. Palntsd
birds and flowers are frequently In
corporated, whilst gold powder and
mother of pearl are also used to en-
rich articles destined for ornamental
purpose only. el1ccessive coats Of
vsrnish are theL given until the whole
surface IS practically level, after
which the surface is rubbed down and
carefully polished. Needless to say
the trays sold In this country with
which we are mostly familiar, must
not be taken as fair specimens Of Jap
anese lacquer work. being made for q
cheap market and for domestic use
yet even here one occasionally comes
across specimens which are undoubt
edly artistic, and which. when IN con
slant use. prove very durabls.
Another form of lacquer work II
favor amongst this interesting race i,
the decoration Of a panel or plaque
with raised ornamentations Of lvorl
or pearl. Here the background Is gen
orally a highly polished surface. most
ly black and occasionally dark brown
either Of which helNs to throw up WITH
fine effect the light shades Of N.
IVORY ana pearl nasA