Fig. 3.--Vase with the Seven Worthies of the Bamboo Grove in _lac burgauté_. Height 14½ inches. Fig. 4.--Vase with “robin’s egg” glaze. Height 4⅛ inches.] [Illustration: Plate 129.--Octagonal Vase and Cover, painted in _famille rose_ enamels. Ch’ien Lung period (1736–1795). Height 35 inches. _One of a pair in the Collection of Dr. A. E. Cumberbatch._] As already mentioned, T’ang Ying was commanded by the Emperor in 1743 to arrange and explain twenty pictures of the manufacture of porcelain which were sent to him from the palace. In twelve days he completed the descriptions which have since been incorporated in various books on porcelain, including the _T’ao shuo_ and the _T’ao lu_. They have been translated by Julien[457] and by Bushell,[458] and as most of their facts have been embodied in the previous pages, it would be superfluous to give a verbatim translation of them. The following summary, however, will give the drift of them, and Bushell’s translation of the _T’ao shuo_ can be consulted for a full rendering. _Illustration_ I.--COLLECTION OF THE STONES AND FABRICATION OF THE PASTE. The porcelain stone (_petuntse_) was obtained at this time from _Ch’i-mên_, in the province of Kiangnan. “That of pure colour and fine texture is used in the manufacture of bowls and vases of eggshell (_t’o-t’ai_), pure white (_t’ien pai_), and blue and white porcelain.” Other earths, including _kaolin_, were mined within the limits of Jao-chou Fu. II.--WASHING AND PURIFICATION OF THE PASTE. III.--BURNING THE ASHES AND PREPARING THE GLAZE. The ashes of burnt lime and ferns were mixed with _petuntse_ in varying proportions to form the glazing material. IV.--MANUFACTURE OF SEGGARS. The seggars, or fireclay cases, by which the porcelain was protected in the kiln were made of a coarse clay from Li-ch’un, near Ching-tê Chên, and we are told that the seggar-makers also manufactured rough bowls for the use of the workmen from the same material. V.--PREPARING THE MOULDS FOR THE ROUND WARE. VI.--FASHIONING THE ROUND WARE ON THE WHEEL. VII.--FABRICATION OF THE VASES (_cho ch’i_). VIII.--COLLECTION OF THE BLUE COLOUR. The mineral was obtained at this time from Shao-hsing and Chin-hua in Chêkiang. IX.--SELECTION OF THE BLUE MATERIAL. X.--MOULDING THE PASTE AND GRINDING THE COLOURS. XI.--PAINTING THE ROUND WARE IN BLUE. XII.--FABRICATION AND DECORATION OF VASES. XIII.--DIPPING THE WARE INTO THE GLAZE OR BLOWING THE GLAZE ON TO IT.