국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Highlights
Roof-end Tile with Lotus Design, Earthenware
  • Nationality/Period

    Goguryeo Kingdom

  • Materials

    Clay

  • Category

    Housing - Architecture sub-material - Roof Material - End-tile of Convex Roofing Tile

  • Dimensions

    D. 16.4cm

  • Accession Number

    Bongwan 10293 - 1

Roof-end tile ① was fired very hard using relatively fine clay. It is reddish brown overall. A protruding semispherical ovary is in the center of the tile surface, and the size and volume appear reduced compared to tiles of the previous period. Four lotus flower petals are engraved around the ovary and between them four monster-mask designs are also incised. A zone with a 0.8 cm wide pattern is on the edge of the tile, and a pattern of oblique lines is engraved. The monster-mask design became popular for roof-end tiles after the capital city was moved to Pyongyang in the 5th century. The front surface was decorated with a monster-mask design but sometimes a lotus design was also decorated with such a monster-mask design. Roof-end tile ② was fired at a low temperature and is made of clay mixed with sand, different from normal Goguryeo roof-end tiles. The surface is reddish brown, and a protruding semispherical ovary is in the center of the tile surface while the outer edge is delineated using one raised line. Apart from 10 lotus flower petals on the overall surface of the roof-end tile, it is simple without any specific decoration. A mark still remains that indicates its separation from the ridge tile, and several deeply engraved lines appear on the adhesive surface to reinforce the strength of the adhesive.