South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-05
CHING TEH- CHEW
Is STRANGE CITY
TO ALL AMERICANS
Place Where Chinaware is
Made is Interesting Town
TO Travellers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Ching
.eh-chen. possibly a stranger city to
he average American. needs only
his introduction: 1T IS the home
u chinaware."
One Of a series Of bulletins OF the
National Geographic Society upon
Where Our Imports Come From,
1uOtes from a communication 20 the
socisty by Frank b. Lenz. as fol-
lows:
"The great Industrial city OF
China is not one Of the treaty ports,
where the direct influence OF West
ern progress Is constantly felt. but
busting interior city OF kiangsi
Province -ChIng-tch-chen. This is
the famous porcelain and pottery
center OF the natiOn-indeed, II is
the original home Of the porcelain
industry or the world.
Has Single Industry.
There are few cities in America
or Europe that are 80 completely
given over TO a single industry as
this one.
connoteT II is simply made OF clay
and named for the country that first
produced IT, Whether it be green
tile from a temple roo a dish.
vase. or a painted ornament from
wealthy CelestiaIs home IL all has
p traceabIe connection with Ching
rah-chen With the Chinese, Ching
reh-chcn and porcelain are synony-
NOUS.
~Ching-teh-chen clown Of Seen
c VirtueD is one Of the four largest
towns Of China. Technically, II is a
town. because Il has no wall. In
reality 10 is a busy industrial city
or 5000 people. two-thirds OF
whom are engaged IN the manufac-
ture and sale Of porcelain Roman
tically il is a city TO stir mems souls
I.ongfeuow. i'm his 'Keramos. speaks
OF d..
THE geographical location OF
Ching-teh-chen IS not accidental II
became the pottery center OF the
country centuries ago because Of the
enormous quantities Of excellent
clay in the district around Po Yang
Lake. More than a dozen kinds Of
excellent clay are found in the
neighbOrhOod Of the lake.
Two very descriptive words are
used by the Chinese in referring TO
the composition OF pOrceIain-'c' hi
ku.' or porcelain bone. and chi rO,'
or porcelain flesh The former
gives strength and brittleness to a
vase or bowl. while the latter adds
resiliency and tOughness Unless
these clays are mixed in the right
proportions, the vessels Will either
sag or crack when placed in the
furnace.
Technically. the bone clay is
kaolin, or China clay. II is an in
fusible substance derived from de-
composed feIdspar or granite. The
flesh clay Is a white, fusible mater
ial formed from a mixture OF fields
par ard quartz.
Thousands In Work.
AL Of these Clays are hauled TO
Ching-teh-Chen in the form OF soft
white bricks BY small. flat-bottOmed
boats. Thousands Of Chinese boat
men are engaged in this work
After the clays are thoroughly
cleaned. slfted. and refined they
are kneaded together in varying pro-
portions. usually by a bare-foOted
boy. until they are ready for the pot
ter The wet lump OF clay Is then
placed on the knob Of the potter's
wheel
The potter's wheel. which was
invented by the Chinese, IS a huge
circular machine, about four feet
I'm diameter. made OF heavy timbers
70 lend Il momentum. It rests on a
perpendicular axis IN slight de-
preston. or pit, into which water
and debris rapidly drain.
The potter IS perched above the
wheel. with one foot on either side.
In order TO allow sufficient space
sor the movement OF his hands. At
ter revolving the wheel swiftly with
a short pole. he deftly and with
mechanical precision fashions a
plate. bowl. or vase. After years OF
practice he can estimate 10 within
a hairs breadth the proper size.
Made In MOulds-
The piece IS then removed and
placed on a long tray IN front OF the
potter. where 50 awaits the next
artisan. Handles and other dac-
orations made IN molds. are added,
and then the whole Is Scraped
smooth and allowed 20 dry until il
is ready for the next process-the
under-glaze decoration.
Several basic colors, IKE blue
and red. can be painted on under
the glaze. The glaze IS next applied
I'm various ways-by dipping. by
blowing on with a tube, or by
sprinkltng. After the mark has
been added the piece Is ready for
the furnace"
HAVING hAen IN DrfsOn two