HONGKONG TELEGRAPH WEEK-END SECTION
SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1937
T. Paul Gregory Reveals
A
THE STORY OF A
FAME---A WOMAN'S WHIM...
THE majority of us are
THEN DEATH IN A DEBTOR'S PRISON
largely familiar with the name Staffordshire which recalls the smoking kilns of many a pottery manufactur- ing centre-Burslem, Stoke- on-Trent, Longton, Hanley; but few of us who reside in the Far East can denomin- ate any locality which could be considered the Oriental counterpart of our English potters' towns. Yet, there
short, all the delightful secres of are in South China, two Chinese domestic life (See picture). famous centres of the cera- Thus the grent modeller
grew In ekill and reputation. and mie industry King-teh-t
the length
height his career, he took for himselt t ch'en and Shek-waan.
nature wanton and
so numerous
Pottery Art Loses Its Most Famous Master
of
but
Finally, his many creditors des- pairing of ever securing payment, applied to the Courts for redress and the won cast Into prison for debt.
To sit in prison is in itself a dis- „aster, but when one is an oplum nd- dict and having every nerve in one's body literally crying out for their wonted stimulant, and having it
The former is situate in theby nat
concubine--a beautiful cread of province of Kwangsi, and is one pleasure and galety. To one of such of the most prosperous cities in merring to a simple dented, is an even greater calamity.
artist wo the Middle Kingdom. In fact, potters' town offered little soon all and as the the kilns in opportunities aro
for Indulging in B King-tch-ch'en that the poet Roheinlan existence, she
speedily became miserable. Her husband Longfellow described it as the
tried to cheer her and urged her to city of "ten thousand chimneys."
take an Interest in his work; but and, moreover, from here comes
in practically all the porcelain which is exported from the country. Indeed, so vast is the quantity that the West long since learned to bestow upon the products of King-teh-ch'en's kilns the distinctive name of "Chinaware."
Shek-wann, on the other hand, is not so well-known, although its potteries have been active for several centuries. This is a town in the dis- trict of Naum-hol, about a score of miles from the city of Canton. The
kilns wares produced by
place have been famous
Chinese since the bemongst the
embrace every not of the
she eng speedily berame surfelted watching him day after day sitting at his work-bench-modelling paltry things of clay. Indeed, his assidu- thing ous devotion to his ert
his ern irritated
the tady, and she.e
e.constantly chided him about it, eventually telling him that be must loved work and her beautiful self.
The poor husband was in a dilem- mi,
she truly loved
his pretty wife, and at last, wearled by her importunities, he yielded to wishes
followed a few short years of reckless
reckless spending in
choose between -his
and
her
to
CHINESE TRAGEDY
Here are pictures of work
actually done by the groat
·Chinese pottery artist con- corning whose tragedy the accompanying story is writ- ton. The two pictures aro cloquent of the rise and fall of the unfortunata man. Opposite is some of his work before he became an opium addict and thrown into prison. Below are some of the grotesque figures ho produced in prison in order to earn a daily dose of opium. The duck in the picture was modelled by Wong P'ing, tutor of the artist. These pictures were taken by a staff photo- grapher by courtesy of the Dragon Lantern Shop.
then the pursuit of frivolous pleasure. At length, his own savings being
cx- hausted. of this
the artist, with gay in. souciance and careless heed of the of the of the future, borrowed here and there, un- til shortly he was hopelessly in debt, Ming period (circa 1388 A. D.) and of the pat-
and he could borrow no further. ter's art, from the
Then being no longer able Chinese
10 kitchen 10 exquisitely grant the, insatiable desires of his modelled figures of men and animals.
pretty concubine for finery and The latter are, in their way, mar- luxurious living. and his own in- vels of the modeller's art, as excep-
terest
in his once well-loved craft tional care is taken in the manipula- being entirely dissipated, he, like
order tion of the plastle material in
many another in similar position,
In that particular gaol, the strict to Insure proportion which will not took to opium. His sole desire now
This careful offend the artistic
letter of the law prohibited prisoners became the solace of the poppy and eye. observance of anatomy, together in his drugged dreams he beheld
from indulging in opium smoking, with the thick, flocculent and parti
himself once more the great master
but there was of course, a certain coloured Blazes
ced, have ren-
and he saw his numbed fingers turn-
urn-amount of smuggling going on-for dered these clay
immenselying out again the figures thint
who could pay the
priec popular. It is, indeed, to such wares once loved. But alas, such a boun- | Here even opium dross commanded uss commanded
Then and there, a that Shek-waan owes its fame, and den slave did he become to
was bargain the high price of course beyond the
struck between the warden of the the modellers are easily amongst the "black earth" that he began
reach of the penniless artist. Finally, to most skilful of all the artisans
of his
clothing and the pots and uten-
pawn the
the hapless for man dragged himself be- prison and the inmate. The official China.
sils of his already impoverished
warden and,
ing agreed to supply the materials and kow-towing
the facility for burning the clay, and men household.
Soon he had no funds dally boon of a little opium. The Ihrice besought him to grant the
the artist was to model one figurc In the employ of the Shek-wann pot-with which to buy good opium and
tries who have gained more than had to content himself with smoking dignant, and demanded in a perempts'in (about 1/10 catty)
cach day, for which he was to re- warden was both surprised and in-
ceive a daily potion of nearly one of Patna lory tone: "Who do you think you
opius •
There
have been
many
local reputation for the studied ex- cellence
one
in
he
the dross. Of him now it could be
of their modelled Ogures, said: and of these artists, perhaps the most celebrated was who was truly a master in his craft. His sud downfall through debauchery optum, which eventually culminated in his death at the age of $5 in n debtor's prison last year, is a poignant tragedy of Chinese He.
This artist was the favourite pupil Ping,
of the great master Wong
a
himself notable modeller, andl. greally esteemed amongst
connoisseurs
Chinese
for his faithful repre sentations of ducks
other
barn-yard fowls, (See picture),
But the pupit ensily surpassed his master,
and for years there were turned out by his skilled, hands a succession
of charming figures in clay-men and women in their happy, care-free moods, children playing with fowls and animals; in
Permanent Waves
We use the finest Cluster Curl oil
of Lavender, non-ammonia solution. HAIR-DRESSING
MANICURE & FACIALS EXPERT TREATMENT.
MODERATE PRICES Appointment Tel. 57122.
SUI LAN
BEAUTY PARLOR 523, Nathan Road, Kowloon.
"Yin-laing, yin-tsing
Tsu az, tsnu wing" "Oplum not, oplum sat.
- Not only will he die but be throws away his whole Bfe."
TEST ANSWERS
Weck-End Problems
PROBLEM I. HICKVILLE FAIR The total number of beasts bought was:
Callie
21
Pigs
40
Sheep
42
made up as follows:
P
$
1st farmer
2nd
3rd
4th
3
5th
2
Oth
1
7th
"
The answer to the problem is
unique because no number of bensts, other than 10, permits of seven different
arrange- ments.
*
PROBLEM JI.
HAL
AR1 D
L
I ME
D E S
Poison Pen
Solution
Playfair had hit on an ex- tremely ingenious idea. When Calliput went to Digger's Green, he took with him pine special sheets of stamps, cach different- ly marked in Inviable ink. These he kept in locked drawer. There was one sheet for each of Plnyfnic's
suspects, and, in due course, Calliput had sold stamps to all of them. All the poison pen letters posted subsequently to his arrival bore stamps that had been sold to Misa Pallaway.
those
da
are?"
The artist replied:
"I am the greatest artist in Shek-waan".
"You a great artist?" repeated the incredulous official. "Why, you are nothing but a worthless opium sot."
"I know," inslated the artist, "but I um Indeed he. Only give me a handful of moist clay, and I will prove it to you,"
Perhaps the quiet assurance of the man convinced the official, and, cum- manding that the required materials be brought, he ordered him to model his (the warden's features). So the artist took the clay and holding it beneath the table at which oft fletal war seated, gazed intently at the latter's face, and with a payer on his lips that his fingers show their wanted skill, he quickly moulded a striking portrait.
"There!" he exclaimed, handing the finished result to the warden, "now won't you believe me when I say that I am a great artist?"
She
H
As the official stared at the perfect | Shek-waan potteries have as yet ac- likeness of himself, he felt as it in
the presence of grent genius. "Please," he said, "give this to me. It is indeed, a marvellous piece of work." -
quired the renown of this great mas- ter, although there are a number of living modellers who are esteemed for consummate skill in portraying certain subjects. Amongst these, be mentioned, the clansmen may Fok Tsun and Fok Hau who applauded for the delicate detail of their subjects.
are
However, there is another artist upon whom the mantle of the Im- prisoned debtor seems likely to fall, and that is Lau Wal. This artisan has
been long esteemed by his for Chinese and Japanese admirers his
characters representations of from mythological lore and
Bod- pantheon-fairies,
of Goddesses
For nearly six months until his death, this remarkable man was an inmate of the debtors' prison. Everyo day during this period he modelled methodically a figure in clay; but the
Buddhist histvos,
the
Mercy
bonze Bodhidharma Taat-moh in Chinese) who arrived in China in 528 A. D. This worthy
•SNAPSHOT GUILD
The
PICTURES EVERYBODY LIKES
THEstatisticians toll us that there
are now millors and millions of camora owners-more than 16 - tions in the United States alone-but how many of them take pictures that really qualify as pictures, auch no might be chosen to adorn the walls of a home other than thoir own, in a question.
Some judges of amateur snapshot contests arer that scarcely ono per- son in a couple of thousand submits pictures of genuine pletorial quality or having the anving appeal of story- telling human interest. Others say that often most of the pictures aro so good in those responts that they have difficulty in making docialans.
Porhaps to verdict depends as much upon who the judges are as upon what the pictures are. All of thom concedo that from the stand- polat of photographic quality-cor rect exposure and proper focus-the average of amatour photographia in high. In that sense there to no doubt that thousands of amateurs tako good pictures but with respect to ovoking general appeal, it must be admitted that not all give evidenco of attention to artistic composition, thought in the choice of subject, or care for the right moment to anap the shulter. The result is pictures that are commonplace in their apponl to others. Usually auch piciuron aro personal to the picture taker, such an a close-up of a beloved Infant with no qualities to distinguish it from anapahols of a thousand other babies.
To win snapshot prizes, camera users need to take pains to plan
their pletures or at least exercine judgment la selecting a lowpoint
work now produced by his hands (Kwoon-yam in Chinese), etc. More- shows a striking dissimilarity to the over, one of the favourite themes of work of his carller and
is hap- this artist is the modeling of figures only one of which may be mentioned pier yours. The old
skill
Wis there, but now was instilled a hor- rible nale; for, all the figures are literally self-portraits. Lean, gauni with protruding bones and faces with stark staring eyes-Indeed, the vivid
the appearance of
bodles
of
ture),
A
con-
is especially revered by the Chinese,
In this article. This is a Mr. Ch'un who is said to show great promise in his modelling. Incidentally, it may be said in this connection that the other products of the Shek-waan
and incidentally the Japanese, on account of the scholarly nature of portrayals teaching, which is based on the Armed
rinciple that every one may arrive potteries, such as kitchen pots, bulb opium addict. (S:c ple- at knowledge of the dharma or law bowla, etc., are largely left to the lengthened, the figures became more
As the months in the goot of Buddha by meditation; hence hands of the ordinary workmen; for Chinese artists, who are naturally of the criterion of an artist' is judged by ghastly in detall, and some of the a contemplative mind, love to deplet his si in modelling the various latter ones are demoniacal in their the great Teacher in one of his many types of figures
moods. Lau Wal, for example, ex- horrifying aspect, revealing the ter- rible mental and spiritual anguish presses a forte in portraying Bod- | suffered by one who has fallen victim hidharmaa as a squatting cowled
to the terrible curse.
figure holding a straw sandal,
With the passing of this famous modeller, none of the artists at the
brushes
There are, furthermore, a whole array of minor artists In Shek-wann,
her
AIRDRESSING fashions go up and down,
just like the position of the waistline or the length of our skirts.
Just now hair is on the upward move, and has been since the Scalptite dressing (the flattest of all) which was fashionable about five years ago, But it still has a very long way to go before it reaches the Puff style of 1900, which was over two inches high, and it's most unlikely that it will ever again reach to the Chinese wax dressing of nine to ten inches, or to the highest dressing of all known-the Frigate style Powder dressing of the period of Louis the XIV of France, which towered up to three feet, and was precioua difficult to support.
The new Truefitt dressing seen in the pictures shows a building-up to about 1%1⁄2 inches, with a fringe effect in front, and lacquer flowers to take up the shade of the dress, Wax and "Cellophane" flowers look smart too.
The dressing shown is rather elaborate for everyday, but it can be modified in many ways. Provided the hair is dressed upward and backward at the sides and from the
F
This, in brief, is a resume of the skilled modellers of Shek-waan- artisans of a craft which, as the years go by, will command an even higher | appreciation and esteem than they do
even now,
hair upwards
ears, with a few curls for the top, it will look up-to-the- moment chic, even if it's left low and long at the back.
☆ FLOWERS really do seem to have gone to our heads.
4
From the perched flower or halo, we are now becoming entirely Arcadian, with the checkiest chaplets and garlands you ever saw. Imagine the daintiest pastel colours in delicate flower petals, bound together into a narrow shep- herdess wreath, with the traditional strings falling Bo-Peep fashion for some inches behind, and you have the iden.
What you must still conjure up for yourselves is the amazingly, coqueftish effect these are bound to create, with that suggestively slight til to the right. Just that something which calls for a second look. from the one who matters-and after all-why not?
Constance Spry says that never in her experience has there been such a year for flowers. She is, of course, consulted by every successful hostess in Mayfair, and many la the debutante who owes her first triumph to some arifully placed floral link in her tollette,
All the same, don't run away with the idea that these "coroncia” are always cheeky, for I was thrilled to see the loveliest orange blossom one. It called up the June bride vision as quick as thought, complete with blush,
that will give the best composition. Jinphazard shooting rarely brings really good pictures. Unless export. enco has proved it, amateur picture takers should not assume that they possos natural picture 8021, They would do well to study oxam. plon of artistic photographs con. elantly puhitebod in magazines, nowapapore and books, go to photo. graphlo exhibits, and journ what it takes to make a good pleturo.
Can it be that the majority of amateur picture takers aro quite con- tent with their pictures considering the fan they get in taking them and their value as records of good times or likenesses of rolativos and friends? Córtainly many do get Tast enjoyment in carrying their anap shots around with thom in wallots and handbags and exhibiting them to those in the circle of their acquaint- anco, They think their pictures aro pratty good, and, as personal ple tures, toy certainly aro.
Whether or not a camera usor is interested in snapshot contests, he can got all the pleasure the painter gota in his work to create pictures that will be admired by everybody it ho will venturo.boyond the field of personal interest and try to mako pictures of general appeal. This manus planning, care and thought. It's the difference, for example, be tween a picture entitled, "My wife and Junior, aged four," with the sub Jocia standing stlily alde by sido and one of tho namo aubjects on. Ellod, boy's boat friend is bla mother," showing hor, with the boy over her knee, giving him a spank- ing. That's the kind of plature evory- body likes.
Joha van Gulldor.
"THEY BOTH PLAY FOR THE
SCHOOL NOW, ISO MOUD
OF THEM MUURSE,"
JA
"You have every right to be, Mrs.
Evans, con sco a
wonderful improvement since you Look my advice about 'California Syrup of Figs."
"I could tell from what you said that there must be toxin in their sys- Lems.. When children are cross and peevish and lose interest in their food and games, you can be practically sure it's an accumulation of poison- ous matter upsetting their Insides.. I've seen it so often! Just cleanse the system in a safe, natural way, chil- dren go ahead like wildfire.
"But do be sure always to give them "California Syrup of Figs." "It's a natural fruity laxative which safely cleanses and purifies the bloodstream and creates a fine healthy appetite.
"Keep on with the weekly dose of *California Syrup of Figs. Mrs. Evans. It's a fine laxative-for young and old. As a matter of fact I use it myself and advise you to adopt it for the whole family.
Be sure to get the genuine "Call fanta Syrup of Figs."
"California
Syrup of Figs"
'NATURE'S OWN LAYATINE