Description
Antique Japanese ceramic roof tile decorated with Japanese family crest. Roof tiles are called
kawara
in Japan where they are used not only to protect a home from the elements but
also as important architectural ornaments. Roof eaves are sometimes
decorated with special pendant tiles called
nokimarugawara which may feature a circular disk attached to a
half-round tile. The disk (gatou)
will often feature an image such as a household seal (kamon)
or an image thought to act as a protective charm.
About the Listed Item
The design pattern on this particular nokimarugawara-style
gatou is a floral pattern family crest. The tile is in poor to fair condition with chips, marks and scratches and the entire piece has been subject to a good
deal of outdoor exposure and weathering, creating a beautiful natural patina of
age. Small holes visible at either side of the tile were used to secure the tile to the roof structure. This wonderful and authentic Japanese decorative roof tile dates from the mid Japanese Showa
period (1926-1989) or earlier and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka,
Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.
Size:
Diameter: 3.1 inches (8.0 centimeters)
Depth: 1.8 inches (4.5 centimeters)
Weight: 7.1 ounces (202 grams)
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More about Japanese roof tiles
Tiled roofs (hongawarabuki) are a distinguishing
feature of most Japanese homes, as well as Buddhist temples, Shinto
(native religion of Japan) shrines and many other types of old buildings.
Kawara is the word the Japanese use to describe roof tiles in
general, though there are in fact many styles and types of tiles with regional
variations, and a large and specialized vocabulary is used to describe these. Japanese roof tiles are
typically very well made and often outlive their intended function protecting
structures from the elements. As a result, old roof tiles can sometimes be
spotted in Japan being reused for unique and interesting purposes. Old
roof tiles are sometimes used to reinforce earthen retaining walls, or stacked
one next to another to make garden borders. Roof tiles are also buried
vertically along dirt walkways with just the tips exposed a fraction of an inch
above the surface to create artistic patterns and to act as paving surfaces.
Decorative end caps called
onigawara (ogre tiles) look especially nice as accent pieces within
the home or on patios and especially when positioned amidst garden foliage.
item code: R3S4B4-0005881
ship code: L1650
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