India Japanning. The great peculiarity in the Indian method is the embossing, or raising the figures, etc.., above the surface or ground, and the metallic or bronze-like hue of the several designs; the grotesque appearance of the several ornaments, whether figures, landscapes, or whatever other designs they are embellished with, being so totally different from every principle of perspective, and so opposite to every idea we have of correct drawing. Nothing but the study of Chinese models themselves will enable the workmen to imitate, with any degree of precision, their several characteristics.

3039. Ground for Chinese Japan

3039. Ground for Chinese Japan. Mix any quantity of the finest whiting to the consistency of paint, with isinglass size; lay on your wood 2 or 3 coats, observing to put it on evenly and smoothly, and not too thick ; let it dry; then rub it gently with a soft rag and water till the surface is quite level and polished; if a small portion of honey is added to the mixture, it will render it less liable to crack or peel off. If the ground is to be black, which is most usual, give it a coat or two of the black japan mentioned in the common method of japanning (see No. 3022 (To Make Black Japan Varnish)), and it is prepared for the figures, etc..

3040. Plaster Ground for Chinese Japan

3040. Plaster Ground for Chinese Japan. Mix fine plaster of Paris with size not too thick, and apply it quickly, for it soon gets hard. Two coats, in most instances, will be sufficient. After it is quite dry, polish it with fine glass paper, and rub it with a wet soft cloth; then give it 2 or 3 coats of drying linseed oil, or as much as it will soak up. "When dry, it is ready for japanning.

3041. To Trace Designs on the Ground

3041.      To Trace Designs on the Ground. Having drawn the figures on a piece of white paper either with ink or pencil, rub the back of it with fine chalk or whiting, and shake all the loose powder off; lay it on the ground, and trace or go over every part of the outline with the end of a blunt bodkin, or other similar instrument; you will then have a sketch in faint outline on your ground. Then proceed to put in the figures, etc., with any desired color, or bronze them.

3042. To Raise Figures on the Work

3042.       To Raise Figures on the Work. Prepare a mixture of whiting and size (some prefer the whites of eggs), of a consistency to flow freely from the pencil, the hairs of which must bo rather long. Begin with a figure, or other part - but do not do too much at a time - and trace the outline correctly, with a free hand; then take a piece of stick pointed at the end, dip it into the composition, and fill up the inside of the outline. Continue to put more of the mixture on till it is raised sufficiently above the surface. Let it get quite dry, and then polish it with a small camel's-hair pencil and clean water, so as to make it perfectly smooth and level. Care must bo taken in this process, that the composition is not too thin, or it will spread beyond the bounds of the outline, but just so thick as to drop from the stick. Some mix with the whiting a portion of flake-white, or dry white-lead. This is an improvement, and for very particular work should be adopted.