example in the Pierpont Morgan Collection, a small ovoid vase with flat base; and in the same collection is a low beaker-shaped vase with flaring neck and globular body strengthened with four square ribs in imitation of a bronze.[256] No numbers have appeared so far on any of these vases, nor, as far as I am aware, on any Sung Chün wares except the flower pots and saucers. I have, however, seen dishes on which a number has been subsequently cut, and numbers occur on later copies of the Chün types described below. The numerals engraved under the base of the flower pots, saucers, and bulb bowls in the finer Chün wares range from 1-10. Their significance has given rise to some debate, but the most reasonable theory seems to be that they indicate the sizes of the different forms, No. 1 being the largest, though an extra large bulb bowl[257] in the Eumorfopoulos Collection has the additional mark [Chinese] _ta_ (great). This is the view which, I believe, is usually accepted in China, and Mr. Eumorfopoulos, who has an exceptional series of these wares, has applied the test to all he has seen, and has found the size theory to hold good in all but a few cases, for which an explanation may yet be found.[258] Another suggestion, supported by some American collectors of note, such as Mr. Freer and Mr. Peters, is that the numbers refer to the Imperial kilns, and that the pieces so marked are Imperial wares. Whether the former theory will continue to stand the test of application to every fresh specimen remains to be seen. With regard to the latter, I shall give reasons presently for doubting that any special Imperial patronage was extended to this kind of ware; and whatever truth there may be in this explanation of the numbers, it is highly improbable that any serious evidence can ever be produced to sustain it. [Illustration: PLATE 36 Chün Wares Fig. 1.--Flower pot of six-foil form. Chün Chou ware of the Sung dynasty. The base is glazed with olive brown and incised with the numeral san (three). Height 7¾ inches. _Alexander Collection._ Fig. 2.--Bowl of Chün type, with close-grained porcellanous body of yellowish colour. Sung dynasty. Diameter 5¾ inches. _Eumorfopoulos Collection._ Fig. 1 Fig. 2 ]