Decorative hip starter

In Poland, semi-circular tiles in the form of an incomplete cylinder are called ridge tiles. To this day, they are used in many parts of the world to cover ridges and corners, although in ancient times and the Middle Ages they were also used to cover the joints between flat tiles of the tegulae in the valley, which, together with the ridge tiles, formed a monk and nun type roof. However, the presented semi-cylindrical tile, covered with green glaze on the outside, originated in China. The tile was built in the late period of the Manchu Qing dynasty (1644–1911) and dates back to the 19th or early 20th century. From the inside, a seal with Chinese ideograms was imprinted on it, and one end of it was finished with a round, decorative plaque with the image of a dragon on it.

This mythical animal in Cantonese called lung (lóng) has become one of the most favourite motifs in Chinese art. The dragon is usually depicted as a long, serpentine creature with huge claws among clouds and waves, as the ruler of the waters: rain, rivers and seas, and at the same time of fruitfulness and fertility. It has long been identified with prosperity and power, and its image is considered to bring good luck, personifying the concept yang in Chinese philosophy. The dragon on the depicted ridge tile breathes fire, has horns, long whiskers, a mane, four paws, a writhing, long, serpentine and scaly body. Next to its mouth is a frequent attribute of a dragon – a burning pearl that fulfils wishes – constituting one of the symbolic Eight Treasures, sometimes also interpreted as the symbol of thunder.

Katarzyna Findlik-Gawron