A Group of Full Scale Roof Tile Drawings: 19th Century

ca. 1880
various sizes

This is a group of about 35 hand drawn ink drawings--some whole, some fragments, some damaged--which comes from the atelier of a roof tile maker in Ise, Japan.

The drawings are done in diluted charcoal-based ink on paper, and the full-scale design is meant to be used as the template for a decorative element of a traditional tiled roof. 

Cloud-like elements can often be seen on traditional Japanese tiled roofs and carved wooden eaves as they suggest vapor, "wetness" and rain, which, of course, are extremely important to homes in cities that are made of paper and wood.  Fire was a big problem in old Japan, and talismans were used to stave them off, so within the group you will find many "cloud like" designs for this very reason.

A real treasure trove for a collage artist or someone working in another discipline.

Recommended.