Tile with phoenix design
8th century
Nearly identical to one excavated at the Tsubosakadera (also known as Minami Hokkeiji), a Buddhist temple established in 717 near the modern-day town of Takatori in central Nara Prefecture, Japan, this tile is likely part of the same group. Featuring a phoenix with outstretched wings standing atop banks of clouds, tiles like these are thought to have decorated the altars of early Buddhist temple halls. They are likely derived from similar earthenware tiles with soaring phoenixes decorating the halls of Buddhist temples in 6th century Korea, in the area of Buyeo, then the capital of the Baekje Kingdom.
Earthenware
12 x 8 1/2 x 2 1/8 in. (30.48 x 21.59 x 5.4 cm)
Thomas D. Stimson Memorial Collection
50.122
Provenance: {said to have been excavated from Tsubosakadera (Minamihokkeiji), in Takatori, Nara, Japan, date unknown}; [Howard C. Hollis, Cleveland, Ohio], after 1949, sold to Stimson; Thomas D. Stimson, Seattle, Washington, 1950, given to Seattle Art Museum; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Photo: Paul Macapia
