preceded
porcelain, for not only was it the matrix out of which porcelain grew,
but in certain districts of China, where the necessary materials for
porcelain are not found, similar wares have been manufactured without
intermission to the present time. Naturally, in progress of time, the
technique of this pottery has been greatly improved, both by
developments in the preparation and mixture of the clays, the shaping
and modelling of the wares, the introduction of coloured enamels or
glazes, and the like. Dr Bushell, who is our great authority on the
Chinese arts and handicrafts, rightly seizes on two outstanding types of
Chinese pottery other than porcelain which have exercised considerable
influence on the doings of European potters.

1: _Yi-Hsing-Yao_.[28]--This is the pottery, generally of unglazed
fawn, red or brown stoneware, made at Yi-hsing-hsien in the province
of Kiang-su. Articles of every kind are made in these fine-coloured
clays, but the general forms are dainty and skilfully finished pieces,
such as small teapots, cups, saucers, dishes, trays, water-bottles and
wine cups. This ware was largely manufactured under the Ming dynasty
(A.D. 1368-1643) and later.[29] It was imported into Europe by the
Portuguese, who applied to it the name _boccaro_, formerly given only
to a scented terra-cotta brought from Mexico and Peru.[30] This
pottery and Chinese porcelain were wide asunder as the poles in nature
as well as origin, but the potters of northern Europe regarded every
kind of pottery coming from the Far East as a species of porcelain,
and the manufacture of red teapots, mugs, bowls, cups, &c., in
imitation of the Yi-Hsing-Yao was widespread during the late 17th and
early 18th centuries under the name of red porcelain. Dwight, Elers
and Bottger are notable names in this connexion.

2. _Kuang-Yao_.--The name given by the Chinese to the pottery made in
the province of Kwang-tung. There are several centres of manufacture
in this extensive province, but for the purposes of this article it is
sufficient to state that the best-known of these wares are dense,
hard-fired and glazed stonewares, which are always dark-coloured grey,
red, brown or blackish. They are usually glazed with thick, variegated
or opalescent glazes, grey, blue, green, yellow or red, but flecked,
veined and streaked with other tints. The wares are so like the
productions of the Sung dynasty (A.D. 96