Roof-tile end with dragon

Roof-tile end with dragon

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In traditional Chinese architecture, half-cylindrical roof tiles end in a round cap that helps secure the row of tiles and also decorates the building. During the Ming and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, the color yellow and the five-clawed dragon were reserved exclusively for imperial use.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.