A large and very rare lead glazed earthenware roof ridge tile sculpture depicting a civil official riding a celestial horse with flaring nostrils,bulging eyes and flowing mane. This item was made in Shanxi province, northern China, during the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644). There is a very closely related example on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Architectural section of the new ceramics display on the 5th Floor (No.2) - Museum no. C.13,14 - 1910...

Very rare Tang Dynasty (618CE to 907CE) terra cotta wall tile depicting the face of a Zhemushou, a fierce guardian earth spirit meant to ward off evil. It is a trapezoidal shape with much of original red and black pigments intact. Some loss to the lower lip (please see enlargements). Lower W: 19cm/7.8in, upper W: 16cm/6.1in and H: 20cm/9in.