The pattern of crazing displayed by certain classes of early Chinese glazed pottery is often said to be of a random nature. This, it is argued, is not invariably the case, since some features of craquelure may follow definable patterns, this being especially true of Kuan wares. By applying the theories of crack initiation and propagation extensively studied by engineers, an explanation can be provided to account for some of the phenomena of crazing. It would appear to be possible to distinguish between wares that have crazed in the kiln and those in which craquelure has developed after being drawn from the kiln. -- AATA