Collected
Rubbings of Terminal Roof Tiles with Inscriptions and Animal Figures
Warring
States period (ca. 470�221 b.c.e.),
Qin dynasty (221�207 b.c.e.), and
Han dynasty (206 b.c.e.�220 c.e.), variously dated and undated
pieces
Set
of 18 albums, ink rubbed on paper; each leaf: approx. 34.5�35.3 x 23.5�23.9 cm;
dimensions of individual rubbings vary; rough-edged binding
Date
of rubbings not given, late Qing dynasty (1644�1911), Guangxu period
(1875�1908)
Inventory number: Shanta 112
Terminal
roof tiles (wadang)
adorned with molded designs were manufactured during the late Zhou period (ca.
1100�256 b.c.e.), but the use of
stylized characters as architectural ornaments appears to have developed in the
state of Yan during the period of the Warring States. The tradition flourished
during the Qin and Han dynasties.�
Western Han terminal roof tiles are typically divided into two or four
sections; the winding, ropelike characters contained within are in relief and
adapted to fit within the confines of circular forms.
These
rubbings are from a set of 18 albums containing more than 900 rubbings of
various terminal roof tiles from the Warring States through the Han.� The albums were formerly in the collection
of Chen Jieqi (1813�1884), a native of Weixian in Shandong Province.� Chen was the most important connoisseur and
collector of antiquities of the late Qing period; he amassed countless rubbings
of objects within and without his collection, and those he made personally were
of an unmatched quality.
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