Roof Tile in the Form of Kuan Yu, Tilemaker's Group, 14th-17th century
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Stoneware with molded and incised decor under polychrome glazeexpand_more
Gift of the Robert B. Mayer Memorial Loan Collectionexpand_more 92.38.21
Not on Viewexpand_more
This warrior figure, probably representing Kuan yu, the Chinese god of war, once belonged to the American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. As early as 1925, photos of the dining area of his living room at Taliesin North show this figurine on view, carefully displayed on a shelf above the built-in Japanese screen on the north wall of this famous room.
A favorite Asian object of Mr. Wright's, the work was still on view in the late 1950's when clients recall the architect once taking the ceramic down from the shelf, during a conversation and stroking it as one might stroke a family cat.
In China, these ceramics were mounted along the roof ridges of important buildings, where they were thought to protect from the entire structure from evil.
Details
- Title
- Roof Tile in the Form of Kuan Yu, Tilemaker's Group
- Role
- Artist
- Dimension
- 11 in. (27.94 cm)
- Accession Number
- 92.38.21
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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