A Pair of Full-Scale Roof Tile Drawings: Cloud Design

late nineteenth century
each: 14" x 10", 35.5 cm x 25.5 cm

This is a pair of ink drawings 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 for a decorative element of a traditional tiled roof. As might be able to be discerned bylooking at the detail photos here, the paper is delicate and is well-creased.

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.

Just lovely.