Chinese hand molded roof tile with a nice deep blue glaze that is decorated with an auspicious dragon to ward off malevolent spirits.The tile is molded from a low fire ceramic that has been over glazed with a shiny thin blue glaze. The fired ceramic is a reddish buff color. The tile is in the shape of a lappet, the center of which is decorated with a dragon. The dragon is deeply molded with good detail of the scales, and claws. The glaze has pooled around the scales making them stand out. There is also a pearl of wisdom and a fungus of long life. The dragon has the imperial 5 claws. The back of the tile has the same deep blue glaze. It has been fitted with two eye screws and wire for hanging. The top back edge is not glazed. The tile is most likely an ancient ceramic from the Ming dynasty, based on the deep blue glaze used.Provenance The tile brought to the United States in 1933 from China at the start of World War II by a American service man.MEASUREMENTS 9a€ (22.9 cm) wide x 5 ??a€ (16.6 cm) tall x 1 ??a€ thick. Weighs 1 lb 10.4 oz (750 g)CONDITION The edges on the front have small glaze chips. The back edges have chips with one bigger one at the back lowest point. You dona€?t see these from the front. At one point the top back edge has been restored. Theya€?ve done a great job, as it matches and looks good. The piece for its age looks entire and decorative. I could see it hung or on a stand.I just find it amazing that a roof tile could have so much detail. Just imagine what the entire roof looked like! ___________________Item ID: A-1320