Tile

Art Historical Context

This exquisite earthenware tile hails from China's Qin-Han dynasty (221 B.C.–A.D. 220), a transformative era that saw the unification of the empire under the Qin and the cultural flourishing of the Han. Measuring a modest 2⅜ × 13 × 5½ inches, this ceramic piece exemplifies the architectural and decorative arts of ancient China, likely used in tombs, walls, or palaces to adorn surfaces with subtle elegance. Crafted from earthenware—a low-fired clay abundant in early Chinese ceramics—this tile highlights the period's mastery of molding and low-temperature firing techniques. Before the later inv...