Note 252 — Chapter IX
Reading edition
Bk. ii., fol. 7 verso. In discussing the glazes with mixed colour, the author says: "Of these wares, the sword–grass bowls and their saucers alone are refined. The other kinds, like the garden seats, boxes, square vases, and flower jars, are all of yellow sandy earthenware. Consequently, they are coarse and thick, and not refined." The first sentence is difficult, and has given rise to much discussion. The word ti, which Bushell has (rightly, I think) rendered saucers, literally means "bottom" or "base." Hirth reads it, "Those which have bottoms like the flower pots in which sword–grass is grown are considered the most excellent"; and Julien appears to have quite misunderstood the application of the passage. The original is . The shallow saucers in which the deep flower pots stood are often included among the bulb bowls. See Plates 37 and 40.
