I am not aware of any specimens of this group, either of the earlier or the more debased kinds which bear date-marks, but still a clear indication of the period is given by various circumstances. A bowl in the National Museum at Munich is credibly stated to have belonged to William V., Duke of Bavaria (1579–1597),[179] and a beautiful specimen, also a bowl, with silver-gilt mount of about 1585, is illustrated by Mr. Perzynski.[180] The characteristic designs of this ware are commonplace on the Persian pottery of the early seventeenth century, and a Persian blue and white ewer in the British Museum, which is dated 1616, clearly reflects the same style. The shallow dishes with moulded sides are frequently reproduced in the still-life pictures by the Dutch masters of the seventeenth century, from whose work many precious hints may be taken by the student of ceramics. To give one instance only, there are two such pictures[181] in the Dresden Gallery from the brush of Frans Snyders (1579–1657). We shall have occasion later on to discuss more fully another kind of blue and white porcelain for which the Chinese and American collectors show a marked partiality, and which has received the unfortunate title, “soft paste,” from the latter. It has an opaque body, often of earthy appearance, and a glaze which looks soft and is usually crackled, and the ware is usually of small dimensions, such as the Chinese _literatus_ delighted to see in his study, and beautifully painted with miniature-like touches, every stroke of the brush clear and distinct. Ming marks--Hsüan Tê, Ch’êng Hua, etc.--are not uncommon on this ware, and there is no doubt that it was in use from the early reigns of the dynasty, but the style has been so faithfully preserved by the potters of the eighteenth century that it is wellnigh impossible to distinguish the different periods. A dainty specimen with the Wan Li mark illustrated in Fig. 2 of Plate 93 will serve to show the delicacy and refinement of this exquisite porcelain. At the same time it should be mentioned that the imitation Ting wares described on p. 96, vol. i., when painted in blue, are included in this group. [Illustration: Plate 78.--Porcelain with pierced (_ling lung_) designs and biscuit reliefs. Late Ming. Fig. 1.--Bowl with Eight Immortals and pierced swastika fret. Diameter 3¾ inches. _S. E. Kennedy Collection._ Fig. 2.--Bowl with blue phœnix medallions, pierced trellis work and characters. Wan Li mark. Height 2¼ inches. _Hippisley Collection._ Fig 3.--Covered Bowl with blue and white landscapes and biscuit reliefs of Eight Immortals. Height 6½ inches. _Grandidier Collection._]