MING DYNASTY 15th – 17th CENTURY RIDGE TILE.

A Ming pottery ridge tile, Ming Dynasty, Hongzhi to Chongzhen Period c.1500-1640, Probably from a kiln in Shanxi Province. The large Ming pottery ridge tile depicts on of the Immortals.

Condition
In good condition, chips to extremities :
Size
Height Excluding Stand : 42.5 cm (16 3/4 inches)
Provenance
N/A
Stock number
24529
References
For more information about Ming Architectural Ceramics see Jessica Harrison-Hall`s excellent book : Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum.(Jessica Harrison-Hall.The British Museum Press, 2001. ISBN 0-7141-1488-X.) Chapter 18.

Photos

Information

According to traditional Chinese belief, roofs are platforms of communication between the words of the living and spirit realms. Consequently they were decorated to ward off evil and to act as a magnet for blessings and good fortune.

 

Sancai Pottery :
Sancai (three colours) is a term used to describe low-fired polychrome glazes consisting of three or sometimes four colours. These were predominately green, brown, yellow and cream. Typical Sancai pottery includes lead-fluxed Tang wares. Sancai glazes are frequently found on Chinese funerary and architectural pottery. The type of pottery used for Minqi (funerary models) is similar to the ceramic body employed to make Ming architectural tiles and is therefore sometimes referred to as `tile-works type`.

 

The Eight Immortals :
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary Xian, immortals or transcendents in Chinese mythology. Each Immortals power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called `Covert Eight Immortals`. Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or Song Dynasty. They are revered by the Taoists, and are also a popular element in the secular Chinese culture. They are said to live on Penglai Mountain-Island. The Immortals are : Immortal Woman He (He Xiangu),Royal Uncle Cao (Cao Guojiu),Iron-Crutch Li (LiTieguai),Lan Caihe,Lü Dongbin,(leader)Philosopher Han Xiang (Han Xiang Zi),Elder Zhang Guo(Zhang Guo Lao),and Zhongli Quan.