Provenance:
- Private Collection, The Netherlands 2021
TL Tested by Oxford Authentication
Condition Report Available
Price on request
This object can be viewed in our gallery.
A Chinese glazed tilework panel, comprising three parts, depicting a dragon in high relief amongst foliage and flowers. Set on a green ground, the yellow and green dragon writhes amongst thickly potted green foliage and yellow blossoming peony flowers. These types of panels would have been part of the decorative architectural scheme of a building, possibly a temple. Architectural ceramics (liuli), were produced in moulds and then individually finished by hand, the amount of detail varying according to the importance and function of the building. These wares are usually thickly potted from clay and fired at low temperatures. The lead-fluxed glazes used are predominantly from the sancai (three colour) palette of green, yellow and brown, though some examples of tilework are found with a purplish blue glaze.
The dragon (long 龙) is one of the most potent and important animals in Chinese imagery, permeating its history, folklore, religion and the arts. Ranked first among its mythological beasts, it is associated with goodness, power and - from the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) onwards - is the symbol of the emperor himself. In contrast to Western dragons, the Chinese dragon is a good-natured creature; said to control the earth and the heavens, from which the rain fell to nourish the crops. From the earliest times in China, dragons were depicted on objects, portrayed in all shapes and sizes. They generally have a serpentine body, clawed feet and stag-like horns. From the Ming dynasty onwards, the dragon emblem - particularly with five claws - is reserved for the use of the emperor and his immediate family.
The Ming period was one of great economic prosperity and expansion in China, which caused a building boom and a large demand for architectural ceramics. These were manufactured by potters who moved from site to site, establishing kilns where their work was needed. Functional tilework ceramics such as architectural elements and figural sculptures with bright glazes, could then be produced locally for the construction of major buildings or temples. Roofs of notable buildings would be covered with colourful glazed tiles, some with three-dimensional ornaments such as figures of gods or animals. Friezes that ran along the top ridges were also decorated with auspicious decorative motifs, as rooftops were considered platforms of communication between the mortal and spirit world. The decorative schemes were chosen with specific intention of protecting the dwellers against evil, as well as to attract blessings and good fortune.
The British Museum, London, has a series of tilework panels with dragons (acc.nr 2006,0503.1.1-20). The Norton Simon Museum, Florida has a set of two (acc.nr. 2016.46.2a-b).
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