Accession Number
1979/2.3

Title
Ceramic roof tile with fragment of apsara, cloud designs

Artist(s)
Korean

Artist Nationality
Korean (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
676-935

Medium & Support
earthenware

Dimensions
2 1/4 x 7/8 in. (5.7 x 2.1 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Peter Greiner

Subject matter
Apsara design was appeared in Three Dynasty period. It can be found on the ancient tomb mural or espically on the Buddhist temple bell. It was usually carved in the form of bilateral symmetry on the roof-tile.

Physical Description
It is a fragment of roof-end tile with apsara design in relief.

This fragment of a red-brown, high-fired concave eave-end roof tile features a bicheon or apsaras (a celestial being of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology) design. It is made from fine clay, resulting in a smooth surface and robust appearance. The left part of the tile is no longer present; only the heavenly cloth and cloud design remain. The narrow upper and lower rims of this tile are bordered with rows of dots, while the left and right edges have no rim. Clear traces of trimming and smoothing with water are visible on the edges and back of the tile.
[Korean Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art (2017) p.36]

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
roof tile

Additional Object Classification(s)
Decorative Arts

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Unified Silla Kingdom
concave
eaves
rooftops
tile (materials)