Evening star., 1920-11-25
CH|NA!|WARE 4 h0ME
|SABUSTL|NG CITY
Ching-teh-chen, ''Town of
Scenic Virtue" interior
Center of Industry.

Ching-teh-chen, possibly a stranger
city to the average American, needs
only this Introduction: 1T is the
home of chinaware."
One of series of bulletins of the
National Geographic Society upon
"Where Our Imports Come From
quotes from a communication. TO the
society by Frank B. Lenz. as follows:
The greatest Industrial city or
China is not one of the treaty ports
where the direct influence, of western
progress is constantly felt, but bus
tling interior city of Kiangsi prov
ince-Ching- teh-chen This is the ia
nous porcelain and pottery center OF
the nation-indeed, it is the original
home of the porcelain industry of the
world. :,
There are few cities in America or
Europe that are so completely. given
over to a single industry as this one.
Ware of Csay. ~
"Chinaware! What does the word
connote? 1t is simply a ware made
of clay and ramed for the country
that first produced it. Whether it be
u green tile from temple roof,
dish. vase or a painted ornament
from wealthy Celestial's home. it all
has a traceable connection with
Ching-teh- Chen. With the Chinese.
Ching-teh-chen and porcelain are
cs num-
"Ching -teh-chen Clown of Scenic
Virtue) is one of the four largest
towns of China. Technically, it is a
town. because it has no waif.'- In
reality it is busy industrial city
of 100000 people, tw o-thirds of whom
sale OF porcelain. Economically. 1t
is a city to stir mems souls. Long
fellow. in his 'Keramos. .sspeaks of it.
Location Not Accidental
"The geographical location of
Ching-teh-chen is not accidental. 1t
became the pottery center of the
country centuries ago because of the
in the district around Pc Yang lake.
More than a dozen kinds of excel
lent clay are found in the neighbor-
hood of the lake.
Two very descriptive words are
used by the Chinese in referring to
ku,' or porcelain bone. and chi ro,'
or porcelain flesh. The former gives
strength and brittleDets to vase or
bowl, while the latter adds resiliency
are mixed in the right proportions
the vessels will either sag or crack
when placed il the furnace.
Technically. the bone clay is
kaolin. or China clay, 1t is an in
fusible substance derived from de-
flesh clay is white, fusible ma
terial formed from a mixture of
feldspar and quartz.
Hauled In Form of Bricks.
"All of these clays are hauled to
Ching-teh-chen in the form of soft
white bricks by small. fiat-bottomed
boats. Thousands of Chinese boat
men are engaged in this v ork.
AFTER the clayS are thoroughly
cleansed, sifted and refined they are
1,neaded together in varying proper
tions, usually by a barefooted boy.
until they are ready for the potter.
The wet lump of clay is then placed
on the knob of the potters wheel.
The potter's wheel, which was in
vented by the Chinese, is huge cir
cular machine, about four feet in
diameter, made of heavy timbers to
lend 1T momentum. 1t rests on a per-
pendicular axis in a slight depression,
or pit, into which water and debris
rapidly drain.
T THE potter is perched above the
wheel. with one foot on either side, in
order to allow sufficient space for the
movement Of his hands. After revolv-
ing the wheel swiftly with short
pole. he defitly and with mechanical
precision fashions a plate. bowl or
vase. After years of practice he can
estimate to within hairs breadth the
proper size.
THE piece is then removed and
placed on a long tray in front of the
potter. where 1t awaits the next arti-
san. Handles and other decorations.
made in molds, are added. and then
the whole is scraped smooth and al
lowed to dry until 1t is ready for the
next process-the underglaze decora-::
tion.
Several basic colors, like blue and
red. can be painted on under the
glaze. The glaze is next applied in
various ways-by dipping, by blowing
on with a tube, or by sprinkling.
After the mark has been added the
piece is ready for the furnace"