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.