Think out what that name means as you did the
other. You have studied French at school, haven't you?"
"A little," replied Theo modestly. "_Famille_ is family; and I think
_vert_ is green. But of course it could not mean Green Family."
"That is precisely what it does mean," Mr. Croyden returned
heartily. "The name refers to the delicate color of the ware. 'Sky
after a summer rain' was what the Chinese sometimes poetically called
it. It is a porcelain of wonderful rarity and beauty. Some of it even
ranges to as deep hue as apple-green. One does not find much of it
now, for it is a very choice and expensive variety; nor was it widely
made. The ware for which the Chinese were most celebrated was the
_Famille-rose_."
"Rose Family!" exclaimed Theo, instantly.
"Yes. Broadly speaking the Red Family. I am glad to see you have your
French so at your tongue's end. This porcelain of the Rose Family was
the masterpiece of the Chinese. The word rose did not in this case
refer to the flower but to the rich red tone of the porcelain. Some of
it is as deep and almost as brilliant as a ruby; and neither its
decoration nor its coloring can be surpassed. For the Chinese, you
must not forget, were the most original and unhampered of artists.
Pages:
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100