17TH CENTURY

Details

A pair of late Ming sancai-glazed rooftiles
17th Century
Modelled to form a descending open-mouthed, large-eyed dragon with black bulging eyes beneath flowing brows, the long mane swept back and up beside the horns, covered in a green, ochre, black, or cream glaze, some chips and restoration
63.3 cm. high, wood stands (2)

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Lot Essay

Dragon-form roof ornaments of this type, known as chiwen (owl's lips), were placed either side of a roof ridge so that their open jaws appear to be biting the end of the ridge. According to legend, the abode of these half-fish, half-dragon-like monsters was the Eastern Sea. As rain was supposed to occur when water spouted from their jaws, they were used as a charm against fire.
For an illustration of similar amber-glazed chiwen in situ, see W. Weng, The Palace Museum: Peking, Treasures of the Forbidden City, New York, 1982, pp. 78-79 and Yu Zhuoyun, Palaces of the Forbidden City, Hong Kong, 1982, p. 234, no. 302.

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