Roof Tile
18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In traditional Chinese architecture, the roofs of wooden buildings were covered with alternate rows of curved ceramic tiles. Those placed along the lower edge of the roof had circular or semi-circular ornamented ends that formed a continuous decorative band. The tile placed on the roof ridge and on the sloping eaves had sculptures of mythological figures, animals, guardians and gods who protected the building from fire, lightning and evil spirits.
This semi-circular dishui tile end is decorated with a five-clawed dragon, symbol of the emperor. In the traditional Chinese cosmology, the blue colour symbolises Heaven. This tile may come from the site of the Temple of Heaven that was burnt down in 1889.
This semi-circular dishui tile end is decorated with a five-clawed dragon, symbol of the emperor. In the traditional Chinese cosmology, the blue colour symbolises Heaven. This tile may come from the site of the Temple of Heaven that was burnt down in 1889.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stoneware with alkaline blue glaze and moulded decoration |
| Brief description | Stoneware roof tile end with blue alkaline glaze and moulded decoration, China, Qing dynasty, 18th century |
| Physical description | Stoneware semi-circular dishui tile with a pointed onamental panel at one end decorated in relief with a moulded design of a five-clawed dragon chasing a pearl; covered with blue alkaline glaze |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | Fragment of a corner-tile
From the Temple of Heaven, Peking
CHINESE; probably 18th century
C.38-1964(22 July 1964) |
| Production | From register: 'From the Temple of Heaven, Peking, Chinese, c.1890' [...] 'General remarks: Stated by the donor to have been picked up at the site of the temple, c. 1940. The circular hall (chinien t'ien) from which it may have come is reproduced by E.Boerschmann, Chinesische Baukeramik, 103, who states (p. 88) that it was burnt down in 1889 and subsequently rebuilt'. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | In traditional Chinese architecture, the roofs of wooden buildings were covered with alternate rows of curved ceramic tiles. Those placed along the lower edge of the roof had circular or semi-circular ornamented ends that formed a continuous decorative band. The tile placed on the roof ridge and on the sloping eaves had sculptures of mythological figures, animals, guardians and gods who protected the building from fire, lightning and evil spirits. This semi-circular dishui tile end is decorated with a five-clawed dragon, symbol of the emperor. In the traditional Chinese cosmology, the blue colour symbolises Heaven. This tile may come from the site of the Temple of Heaven that was burnt down in 1889. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.38-1964 |
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| Record created | September 23, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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