It is impossible here to dwell upon or to know much of the various descriptions of china made down to the period of the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1649). Upon the productions of this period the Chinese collectors and antiquaries place the highest value--in many cases much greater even than is now given to them in Europe. Some examples of this period are to be seen in Europe and a few in America. One of our commissioners, who met the Chinese and Japanese at the Vienna Exposition, was told by them that they were purchasing choice pieces of porcelain, intending to take them back to their countries, where they are more valuable than in Europe: for, from the earliest days, it seems that both the Chinese and Japanese have been keen critics and lovers of this most fascinating work. Jacquemart and others have attempted to arrange the decorated work into groups as follows: The ARCHAIC--of which perhaps none exists. The CHRYSANTHEMO-PÆONIENNE. The FAMILLE-VERT, or GREEN. The FAMILLE-ROSE, or PINK. Besides these are many sub-varieties. These groups indicate the style of decoration of which we shall attempt to give some sketches, although, as they want color, they must necessarily be faint. The chrysanthemo-pæonienne exhibits the use in various ways of the chrysanthemum and peony. We give here examples to show the style of decoration, as far as we are able to do it without color. [Illustration: FIG. 99.--_Pot from Mrs. Burlingame's Collection._] Fig. 99 is a pot from Mrs. Burlingame's collection. It stands about twenty inches high, and is a fine example of the early style of work. The paste and glaze are not so good as in the rose family, but still all is excellent. The chrysanthemums are yellow, red, and black. This work is no doubt very old. We give (Fig. 100) a sketch of a small snuff-bottle from the same collection, drawn the real size. It is a perfect piece of work: the paste [Illustration: FIG. 100.--_From Mrs. Burlingame's Collection._] [Illustration: FIG. 101.--_From Mrs. Burlingame's Collection._] is a fine white; the overturned preserve-pot is a clear lemon-yellow, with a little color in the rings; the grasshopper is alive and is brilliant with greens, blacks, and blues. The stopper is a bit of purple amethyst. It is so _complete_ that it fills the mind with satisfaction, more thorough than the sight of St. Peter's can give. [Illustration: FIG. 102.--_Chinese Vase._] [Illustration: FIG. 103.--_From Miss Wyman's Collection._] The _famille-vert_, or green, is so called because a clear, brilliant green is the only or prevailing color. The plate here shown (Fig. 101) is also from Mrs. Burlingame's collection. The paste is a brilliant white, the glaze perfect; and the dragons, in green, have all that freedom and fancy for which the early Chinese artists were remarkable.