A Full Scale Roof Tile Drawing: Cross Section

late nineteenth, early twentieth century  
24" x 13", 61 cm x 33 cm

This is a hand made ink drawing which comes from the workshop of a roof tile maker in Ise, Japan.

The drawing is done in charcoal-based ink on paper, and the full-scale design is meant as a guide for making the elements which will comprise a traditional tiled roof. 

As might be able to be discerned by looking at the detail photos here, the paper is delicate and is well-creased.

Please note some smudges of grey clay on the paper--obviously this is the material used to make the roof tiles. And the charming curved design is meant to suggest a cloud, the cloud being the carrier of rain and water being essential for the preservation from fire of a traditional wood and paper constructed house.

Just lovely--and its abstracted image as pulled out of context is curious and attractive.

Note the losses to the paper which are no doubt due to it being repeatedly traced over time.