Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1573-1644 (circa)
Materials:earthenware
Technique:glazed, moulded, incised,
Subjects:fish
Dimensions:Height: 26.30 centimetres
Description:
Earthenware roof finial in the form of a fish leaping out of waves. It is incised with scales and other details and covered with aubergine, amber, bright green and pale yellow-green glazes. It is hollowed out underneath in the wave section to fit over a plug and designed to ornament a roof.
IMG
![图片[1]-roof-finial BM-1938-0524.89-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/43/mid_00254369_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Carp, according to Chinese belief, may be transformed into dragons by leaping the rapids of the Yellow River. Thus a fish leaping from waves is a metaphor for a scholar rising out of obscurity to high office. Perhaps here it implicitly expresses the idea of transformation from the terrestial world of the roof to the celestial world above. Fish and water creatures were especially popular subjects for glazed earthenware tiles as Chinese buildings were predominantly wooded structures and at great risk from fire. A popular belief prevailed that ornamenting tiled roofs with creatures connected with water would protect the building from fire damage. Architectural fittings are difficult to date without inscription but the aubergine, yellow and green pigments employed are similar to those used in the Wanli and late Ming period for temple sculpture, funerary models and roof tiles.
Materials:earthenware
Technique:glazed, moulded, incised,
Subjects:fish
Dimensions:Height: 26.30 centimetres
Description:
Earthenware roof finial in the form of a fish leaping out of waves. It is incised with scales and other details and covered with aubergine, amber, bright green and pale yellow-green glazes. It is hollowed out underneath in the wave section to fit over a plug and designed to ornament a roof.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Carp, according to Chinese belief, may be transformed into dragons by leaping the rapids of the Yellow River. Thus a fish leaping from waves is a metaphor for a scholar rising out of obscurity to high office. Perhaps here it implicitly expresses the idea of transformation from the terrestial world of the roof to the celestial world above. Fish and water creatures were especially popular subjects for glazed earthenware tiles as Chinese buildings were predominantly wooded structures and at great risk from fire. A popular belief prevailed that ornamenting tiled roofs with creatures connected with water would protect the building from fire damage. Architectural fittings are difficult to date without inscription but the aubergine, yellow and green pigments employed are similar to those used in the Wanli and late Ming period for temple sculpture, funerary models and roof tiles.
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