Side-view of a green and brown sculpture of a sitting horse with a fish-like tail. The horse is seated on a thick green platform with brown signs of wear.
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Unknown Maker, Chinese

Sea Horse Roof Tile

Maker

Unknown Maker, Chinese

Culture

Chinese

Title

Sea Horse Roof Tile

Period

Ming Dynasty

Year

1368-1644

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

earthenware

Geography

Origin: China

Dimensions

21 cm (8 1/4 inches) (height)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke

Object Number

13.007

Type

Exhibition History

Being and Believing in the Natural World
Perspectives from the Ancient Mediterranean, Asia, and Indigenous North America
Oct 22, 2022 – Jun 04, 2023

Label copy

Powerful mythical creatures are found across geographies and religious beliefs. Many of these figures are guardians, and some are associated with wisdom. The griffin in this Roman fresco combines two fearsome animals, the lion and the eagle, making it a strong protector and a guardian of treasures. 

In the case below are other fantastic creatures. 

• the hintha, a mythical bird in Buddhism, similar to the Hindu hamsa 

• a Greek sphinx combining a human, lion, and eagle 

• the horse-like winged buraq, important in Islamic tradition 

• a sea-horse guardian from China 

• human-fish figures revered in South and Southeast Asia

—GB | WC 

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Chinese
Sea Horse Roof Tile, 1368-1644
Earthenware with glaze
21 cm (8 1/4 inches) (height)
Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke 13.007

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