Circular Tile (Cornice End) with Relief of a Dragon from the Ming Tombs

Ceramic roof tiles are a distinctive feature of traditional Chinese timber-frame architecture. They are durable, decorative, and, most importantly, fire resistant. Roofs were covered in overlap-ping, alternating rows of concave and convex half-cylinder tiles that created channels for rainwater. At the end of each row of convex tiles was a circular tile like this one, which covered the end and often hid the pin that helped to secure the downward thrust of the tiles.

This tile purportedly came from one of the ceremonial buildings at the tombs of the Ming emperors located northwest of Beijing. The yellow color and five-clawed dragons support this assertion.