Chinese Architectural Tile with the Character for "5," Based

Grey square slab with a big, bold, hand-gouged glyph.

This architectural brick tile with the character for five, with base is from China, and dates to the 19th century. Fired clay brick and tile have been used in Chinese building for thousands of years, and the surfaces of some tiles were molded or carved with characters and designs. Thick, flat-topped slab of dull grey with a large raised-line symbol of diagonal bars and angular curves cut across the face. The edges are slightly chipped, and the lower border is a heavier band. It is 10.75 inches wide, 10.75 deep and 2 high.

Says its piece with one big, blunt mark.