Chinese pottery brick tiles were rather inexpensive as they were mold made from wet clay, fired in a kiln, covered in a white slip and painted with polychrome colors that were fugitive over time. As China’s trade expanded along the Silk Roads in the Song dynasty foreigners influenced and affected the function, artistic representations and themes of many tiles as tomb designs, previously usually large, hand-made and detailed stone reliefs used since the Han dynasty to decorate walls and doors in tombs for the rich to assure their happiness and comfort in the afterlife, switched to these less expensive pottery tiles decorating walls of not only tombs but also Chinese buildings, temples and pagodas. This change occurred in part because of the Song change from wood to fired brick building. Song brink tiles are admired for their diversity and included subjects depicting holiday celebrations, mythology and symbols of wishes to be filled (wealth, health, longevity etc.) as well as decorative images of animals, birds, plants, trees, fruits and other auspicious images that were also symbolic hopes expressed using rebuses, visual puns and homophones. Foreign influence was seen in images and portraits of foreigners as well as imported architectural elements such as the ogee arch used in the tile’s potted frame.
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This fascinating thick Song pottery brick is a low-fired pottery depiction of a seated dwarf foreigner with a rotund belly, a large head and nose, an open mouth and abnormal features. The Chinese believed dwarfs could ward off evil spirits and sickness, attract peace and blessings (fu) and were wise. Images of dwarfs became so popular, some were mass-produced. With an appropriate mount, this image would make a remarkable wall decoration.
This striking Chinese pottery brick tile depicts a pixiu, a mythical creature known as the “fortune beast” who is s a powerful feng shui symbol of wealth thought to brings money and good fortune and protect people from losing wealth. This fantastical creature with green colored wings and tail has the head of a dragon and the body of a lion. Set within a decorative curving border with an Indian inspired ogee arch at its apex it quickly moves across the framed space with an intensely protective and angry expression to protect its master and his wealth and possessions. There is a rare handprint of the artisan who created it on the rear.
This Song brick tile has a deep scalloped frame with an elegant pointed Indian ogee arch at the top framing two players of the Chinese board game wéiqí seated at a kang table. A fine work of art, Song pottery brick tiles were made with a light slip and polychrome colors; some slip remains and, other than the brown color on the frame, table, players, and the flowers on the back wall, little paint remains. The player on the right turns his head and looks at us as if to say “look at my brilliant move.” With an appropriate mount, this would be a great wall decoration.
This thin Song earthenware tile which was probably made for a wealthy person, depicts the legendary scholar, poet and alchemist Taoist deity Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, who sought to discover the elixir of immortality and used charms still used in Chinese homes to prevent illness and ward off evil. He and his fly whisk are auspicious symbols of longevity and a wish for immortality. Firecrackers have been used for centuries for holiday celebrations, to scare away evil spirits and bring happiness and prosperity. Originally covered in a slip and painted in polychrome colors, much paint is lost except for traces of yellow, green, grey and brown. With an appropriate frame would be a terrific wall piece.
This mould made Song dynasty earthenware tile is an image of the traditional Chinese Lion Dance framed with a decorative border. Two scared children peer in on the left, a person waits behind the lion and another stands on the right with his hands in anjali mudra. Performed by pairs simulating a lion’s movements, (see the four legs below the costume) the front performer controls its head and the rear its hindquarters. It is danced on Chinese New Year, at weddings and other important events and to honor guests, bring prosperity, happiness, good luck and ward off evil spirits.
This thick heavy Song brick tile portrays a seated female musician holding a lute on her lap in a hall with attendants on each side and third person in the distance. The scene is framed in a decorative wide border with a pointed ogee arch, a style borrowed from Indian art. As most ancient buildings containing these pieces used traditional un-reinforced fired mud/brick construction, they were subject to disasters like earthquakes, floods, fires, and war so that few survived intact and often require repair and restoration.
This ancient Song dynasty tile is likely a memorial tile as it portrays a man dressed as an official raising his hands in farewell looking up with devotion to female, possibly his wife or mother, who is ascending toward heavens on a cloud. Framed on only 3 sides, the missing lower frame may mean the tile was larger, damaged and cut or it never had lower border.The two Chinese characters between them are too faded to be translated. A very striking and emotive scene, it would be a great wall piece with an appropriate mount.
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