Pair of Ming Sancai Chiwen Roof Tiles

These monumental Chinese roof tiles were once installed as part of the elaborate roof of a Ming-dynasty temple or grand courtyard home. Dated to the 17th century or earlier, the sculptural forms would have flanked the horizontal ridge that comprised the highest point of the roof, arranged to appear as though swallowing this topmost beam.

With wide-open jaws and scaly, curled tails, the tiles depict a mythical creature known as a chiwen (蚩吻), a chimeric being with the face of a dragon, tail of a fish and wings of a bird. A motif with origins as early as the Han dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), the chiwen is shown swallowing the roof ridge so as to ‘swallow all evil influences’ and protect from fire, flood and typhoon. Glazed in the sancai manner, with green, creme and golden-yellow glaze, the tiles are molded in high relief and embellished with sinuous dragons chasing a flaming pearl, a motif for the pursuit of strength and power.

Each roof tile is composed of four individual pieces and requires a display mount or professional installation.

Deaccessioned from the MacLean Collection of Asian Art.