n, but they subsequently invented styles of
decoration of their own. They did much medallion-painting, a form of
design unknown in China. They also gave to the world their wonderful
Japanese lacquer, a varnish of gums that could be applied not only to
wood but in some cases to porcelain. They also were the race to invent
Cloisonne ware, a very difficult type of thing when made as they made
it. To the surface of the porcelain they fastened a tiny metal outline
of the design and afterward filled in the spaces between it with
colored enamels. You can easily see what careful workmanship such a
process required."

"We have a Cloisonne vase at home," said Theo soberly, "but I never
knew it was made that way."

"If it is the genuine old Japanese Cloisonne it was," answered
Mr. Croyden. "The Japanese also gave us the Mandarin china so highly
prized by collectors. This is an interesting ware because on it we
find the tiny Mandarins pictured in the decoration, wearing their
little toques or caps topped with the button denoting their rank. You
see when the Thsing victors conquered the Ming Dynasty of China they
decreed that many of the old Chinese customs and modes of dress should
give place to those of Japan. Among other things they ordered that
officials wear the toque or mandarin-cap. The Chinese were, as you can
well imagine, very angry; and although they wore the cap you see no
little mandarins thus arrayed adorning their porcelain. But the
Japanese not only immortalized these reminders of their supremacy on
their chinaware, but they even took some of their mandarin-decorated
porcelain to China and forced the Chinese to buy it. In most
collections you will find some of this Mandarin china; but remember,
although it may have come from China, it probably was not made there."

Theo smiled.

"The Japanese came in time to be great traders," continued
Mr. Croyden, "and they are going to be still greater ones some
day. They invented many other kinds of pottery and porcelain which
they sold to the merchants of Holland. Satsuma is a pottery in which
they excelled. It has a body of cream-colored earthenware not unlike
Wedgwood's Queen's ware, and this is richly decorated in dull colors
and gold. In order to please the Dutch traders the Japanese even
painted angels, saints, and other Christian figures both on their
pottery and porcelain, which proves they must have been pretty eager
for European customers. At the present moment the