CASE XXV.

SILVER WARE, ENAMEL, &c.

429 & 430. A pair of elegantly chased silver tankards to contain hot wine.

These afford a good specimen of native skill in this particular art.

Wine is said to have been introduced in the time of Yu (the Chinese Noah), who, after partaking of the luxury, banished the maker, and prohibited its use, remarking that, "in future ages nations would be ruined by it."

S431. A basket, beautifully wrought and enamelled, in silver wire, to contain flowers.

432 & 433. A pair of pearl oyster-shells, richly carved, on one of which there is a bee, ingeniously wrought out of gold wire; a novel and brilliant imitation of that useful insect.

434. A small antique porcelain vessel, a specimen of this art in its earliest age.

435. Grotesque bronze "Lion-unicorn," on a carved stand, used as an incense holder-an ancient specimen.

The figures given of this animal by the Chinese differ very much. It appears to be a mere creature of imagination. One drawing of it partly resembles the fabled griffon of the Greeks; a spinous fin upon the back, a large horn upon the forehead, the claws and teeth of a lion, with the skin of a tiger, are its usual outlines.

436. A small Buddha idol, on a stand.

437. Grotesque lion and whelps, in coloured marble, on a stand. 438. An ancient " Cup of Alliance," used by the bride and bridegroom at the "excellent ceremony" (of marriage) in mutually pledging

each other in a cup of wine.

439 & 440. A pair of beautifully carved figures, from the root of the bamboo, and stands.

441. A beautiful specimen of sculpture of the lotus (nymphæa nelumbo). 442. A snuff-bottle, in lacquered ware, a beautiful specimen from Soochow.

443 & 444. A pair of very beautiful ornamental stands, with marble tops, on which are two flower baskets, ingeniously wrought in silver wire.

445. Antique enamelled vessel, to contain hot wine at feasts, of which the Chinese are remarkably fond.

446. Enamelled bottle-shape flower-vase.

447 to 449. Three ancient metallic figures of Buddha or Fuh.

450 & 451. Two marble idols.

452. A very ancient metallic figure on a tortoise, used as an incense

holder.

453. A superb set of ivory chess-men, exquisitely carved, on a lacquered board; the ball at the bottom of each has in it several concentric spheres.

454. Elegantly lacquered box to contain paper, &c.

455 & 456. Three lacquered boxes, beautifully inlaid with mother of pearl.

457. An ivory ball, containing seventeen concentric spheres, each one being carved with a different pattern. The average time consumed in carving each ball is about one month.

CASE XXVI.

ARTICLES OF VERTÛ.

458. A gentleman's pocket mirror, the back of which is of ivory, with beautifully carved figures.

459. A gentleman's pocket mirror, with back of sandal-wood, carved in a similar manner.

-460. Richly carved ivory case, to contain a gentleman's snuff-bottle. 461 & 462. Odoriferous beads, covered with silk, usually suspended at the neck of the outer coat or jacket of Chinese women when fully dressed.

463. A pair of embroidered tobacco-pouches.

464. Ornamental stand, with imitations of fruit in silver wire, beautifully

executed.

465. An ornamental stand, in which is an apparatus in silver, consisting of a tongue-scraper, tooth-pick, and ear-pick: these are generally appended to the girdle of the dress, attached by a chain of the same metal.

466. Beads of odoriferous wood, from the seed vessel of a plant, sometimes used as buttons.

467. A bronze buffalo, used as an incense vessel.

468. Small ornamental stand, with porcelain vessel.

469. A pair of beautifully painted porcelain jars.

470 & 471. Ornamental stands, with specimens of carving in ivory, of

men, cattle, birds, &c.

472. Pair of chop-sticks and knife, in a case of sandal-wood.

473 to 475. Cups of pressed glass, in imitation of those cut out of valuable stones.

warm.

These are used for wine, at entertainments, which is always drank The wealthy Chinese use small golden cups, having the shape of an antique vase, with two handles, some being square; and at dinner they are kept constantly filled by attendants holding large silver vessels like coffee-pots (see Case XXV., No. 445). The Chinese mode of pledging is singular, but has, at the same time, some resemblance to our own. The person who wishes to do this courtesy to one or more guests, gives them notice by an attendant; then, taking the full cup with both hands, he lifts it to the level of his mouth, and after making a particular motion with his head, he drinks off the contents; he waits until the other party has done the same, and finally repeats the first nod of the head, holding the cup downward before him, to shew that it is quite empty. It is a compliment in China to tell a man that his ability to drink wine is great.

476. Rosary, composed of beads, from the stones of the Pimela of Louriero, or Chinese olive, carved in imitation of the Shih Pă Lo Han, or eighteen disciples of Buddha:

477. A porcelain snuff-bottle.

478. Ancient marble figure on stand.

479. Small metallic candlestick.

480. A beautiful white porcelain vessel on stand.

481. Carved mother-of-pearl ornament, attached to the neck of the outer garment.

482. A signet or hand seal, placed upon official documents, on the top

of which is a representation of a lion and whelp.

The national seal is called "Se," and is made of some precious stone, bearing the words "the gem of the imperial pencil of ten thousand springs;" others are made of gold, silver, or copper; some are square, and others oblong, which varieties are intended to mark the difference of rank. The box containing the official seal, is generally covered with yellow cloth. Dr. Morrison says, the Chinese phrase "Fung yin," i. e., to shut up the seal," implies to desist from the ordinary business of the public courts in the last month of the year; and "to open out the seal," implies a recommencement of public business, after ending the new year's holidays, which continue from about the twentieth of the twelfth moon to the twentieth of the first moon.

483. Glass-box for containing the red pigment used with seals. 484. Model of a mandarin's couch, called "Kang," which occasionally answers for a bed; it is made of the wood "Muh wang," and is richly carved.

In the north of China, during the cold weather, these couches are warmed by fire underneath. They were introduced by the Tartars. In the centre of the seat is placed a small table, “Kang cho tsze,” to receive tea and other refreshments, whilst two persons sit one on each side of it; stools for the feet are placed in front.

485. Metallic incense vessel.

486 to 488. Three ornamental stands, in which are variegated marbles, covered with sculptured hieroglyphics, and which are held by the Chinese in religious veneration.

489. Small ornamental stand, with porcelain vessel.

490. Copper cast of Buddha, worshipped by the religious sect in China, on a stand of hard wood.

491. Beautiful specimen of variegated marble, with rude natural resemblances of birds and animals, in a richly-carved frame.

492. Specimen of painting on glass, with an astrological device, in richly carved frame.

CASE XXVII.

SMALL ARTICLES OF FINE PORCELAIN.

493. Three tea-pots and sundry cups. The inside is of porcelain, the outside of white copper.

These afford a good specimen of a singular application of this metal, being formed in a very puzzling manner over a porcelain vessel of the same shape, which appears as an interior lining. The handles and spouts are of the stone called jade, to which the Chinese give the name The outsides of these tea-pots are covered with sentences expressive of the excellencies of good tea.

of yu.

494. Porcelain dish in form of a leaf, with imitation fruit.

495. Porcelain snuff-bottle, of great beauty, with stopper of red cornelian, attached to which is a tortoise-shell spoon.

496. Perforated porcelain vessel, for sweet-scented flowers.

497. Brown porcelain tea-pot of singular form.

498. Another porcelain tea-pot, with maxims inscribed on it.

499. Very curious porcelain box, in form of a crab, with moveable eyes and feet.

500. Singular and ancient tea-pot, having no lid. The tea is put in at the bottom, and the orifice is then stopped, the object of which is to prevent the escape of the aroma of the tea.

501. Very small tea-pot of brown ware, and porcelain cup of very small dimensions.

These are not toys as they are sometimes supposed to be; but are used in making the finest and most expensive kinds of tea; teas in China being sold at prices varying from a few cents to several dollars per catty.* The most costly kinds are never exported, as they would not bear the exposure of a distant voyage. A small canister of peculiarly fine tea accompanies the above.

502. Vessel to contain hot wine, " tsew hing," at dinners.

503. Perforated porcelain vessel, resembling an orange.

504. Very ancient tea-pot, but similar to the more modern, except in the handle the outer surface being cracked in the burning.

505 & 506. Two porcelain bowls of great beauty.

507. A small portable furnace, made of a species of fire clay.

508. A vessel of clay in common use for the purpose of cooking rice. 509. A figured tile, used for paving court-yards.

510. A kettle made of clay, for boiling water.

This vessel is in general

use in China, and is of the least expensive kind, the retail price is about one farthing each.

CASE XXVIII.

ARTICLES OF VERTŮ.

511. Lady's silk embroidered tobacco pouch.

512. Gentleman's silk embroidered tobacco pouch.

513. Ornamental stand, with grotesque sculptured human figure. 514. Mariner's compass, called by the Chinese, "The needle pointing

to the south."

515. Gentlemen's embroidered pockets.

516 & 517. Buttons worn on mandarins' caps to denote their rank. 518. Ancient Chinese coins of different reigns. The inscriptions on

them are in the antique seal character, which is a species of black letter in China. There are few persons, even Chinese, who are well versed in it. There are also the coins of the

Ta-Tsing, or present Tartar dynasty.

* A catty is one pound and one-third