Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-02-12
Fine Specimen Of Porcelain Ware.

Fine Specimen 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 well decorated, red
and gold being the predominating col
ors, and on p 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-
ton is all that can be desired. the
porcelain is not quite up to the high
standard of the famous Kutani fac
tories. a 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 un-
fortunately, as in other we'll known
manufactures of porcelain and faience
the growing demand for specimens at
popular prices has caused large fac
tories 10 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 Al one time these were TO
be obtained chiefly al 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 a 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 Japa.
nese. and also in the coloring Painted
birds and flowers are frequently in.
corporated, whilst gold powder and
mother of pearl are also used 10 en-.
rich articles destined for ornamental
purpose only. Successive coats Of
varnish are then 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 a
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 durable
Another form OF lacquer work IN
favor amongst this interesting race is
the decoration OF a panel OF plaque
with raised Communications OF ivory
or pearl. Here the background is gen
orally highly polished surface. most
ly black and occasionally dark brown,
either OF which helps to throw up with
nne effect the light shades OF the
Ivory and pearl WITH which the article
4. es0belsIFhed.