项元汴,明代著名收藏家、鉴赏家。工绘画,兼擅书法,造诣极深。本书中图片概由其描绘所呈,别致而有感染力,可见其对古瓷的理解与艺术修养之精深,历经四百多年后仍为世人所喜爱。1868年1月,英国医生卜士礼,前往北京担任英国驻华使馆医师,并兼任京师同文馆医学教习。他在中国居住长达32年,期间不仅精通了中文,还撰写了许多关于中国艺术、钱币学、地理、历史等方面的论文。1900年退休后回到英国,此后出版了《中国美术》(Chinese Art,1905年-1906年)、《中国瓷器》(Chinese Porcelain,1908年)、《中国陶瓷图说》(Description of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain,1910年)等著作,并翻译了明代收藏家项元汴先生的《历代名瓷图谱》。
1 TING YAO of the Sung dynasty. Copy of an ancient Sacrificial Vessel of Wen Wang. 宋定窑仿古文王鼎
2 KUAN YAO of the Sung dynasty. Copy of an ancient T’ao-t’ich Sacrificial Vessel. 宋官窑仿古饕餮鼎
3 Purple TING YAO of the Sung dynasty. Copy of an ancient Sacrificial Vessel engraved with cicada designs. 宋紫定窑仿古蝉文鼎
4 TING YAO of the Sung dynasty. Ancestral Vessel with monsters’ heads and band of scroll design. 宋定窑仿古兽面雷文彝
5 KUAN YAO of the Sung dynasty. Incense Burner with loop handles and manmillated feet. 宋官窑冲耳乳炉
6 HSUAN YAO of the Ming dynasty. Antique Censer with fish-shaped handles decorated in deep red with ruddy clouds melting in the sunat dawn. 明宣窑积红朱霞映雪鱼耳香炉
7 HUNG-CHIH YAO of the Ming dynasty. Small Incense Burner shaped as an archaic ‘oak basket’. 明弘治窑象篮小鼎
8 KUAN YAO of the Sung dynasty. Ink Palette inscribed with an augury of great peace. 宋官窑太平有象砚