Early Han to Sung Period Covered by Collector Although the fact is not generally known, one of the finest collections of ancient Chinese pottery extant is! owned by a Shanghai resident, Mr.
Melchior, who hobby of collecting during thirty years in China.
Comprising 1,100 pieces, the coltection is entirely housed in Mr. Melchior's residence in Yuen Ming Yuen Road, where the trends in the Chinese pottery art since the Third Century B.C. may be noted simply by leifing the eye wander along the walls of Mr. Melchior's sitting-room.
The oldest pieces in the collection date from the Chin and early Han period (256-206 B.C.), as exemplified by the Huai Valley style of craftsmanship—a period well-known for its bronzes. This pottery is hard and comparatively delicately made, with part glazing, and is said to be found Inthe Shochow district, near the Anhwei-Shantung border.
Next come the later Han pieces, much rougher and more "masculine" than the Chin ware and of darker colour, The period covered is from 208 B.C, to 220 A.D.
Historleally Interesting The subsequent period represented in the collection is from year 300 to year 006, including the 'Tang dynasty, and the finest and most interesting samples here are the black Chun and safe-glazed Yin Ching productions, porcellancous stoneware, The Yin' Ching, pale sky-blue or greenish with a closely crackled glaze, is said to be found In graves. in Lung Hu San district, Kiangsi. Historleally viewed, the most interesting part of the collection.
Next come numerous and representative pieces from the Sung era (960-1279), the most Important period in Chinese ceramic history. Strong outlines, simple shapes, and thick, generally monochrome "glazes mark this group. Splashes of colour due to mineral particles in the glaze lend the pieces special charm. The most Important classes within the group afe Northern and Southern Celadon and Chun Yao, green, gray-green, ray-blue, while, yellowish gray, Blue, brown, etc, of tint, Yin Ching with hard glaze' developed from the softeglazed variety of the Tang period. and is @ beautiful type.
"The Southern Celadon of the Sung fern contrasts interestingly with Ming eladon, whose glaze is much harder fand generally has a peaegreen hue instead of the blue of the Sung.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.