Tile
Unknown Artist
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
a) H. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); D. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm) b) H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); D. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qin–Han dynasty (221 B.C.–A.D. 220)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1910
Accession Number
10.202.31
Art Historical Context
This pair of earthenware tiles 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. through the Rogers Fund in 191, these modest yet evocative artifacts now reside in the Metropolitan Museum of's Asian Art department, a glimpse into early imperial craftsmanship. Crafted from earthenware—a low-fired clay common in ancient China—the tiles showcase the period's advanced ceramic techniques, likely involving molding and stamping for precise forms. Measuring about 6–7½ inches tall, ...