Japanese Ceramic Dragon Relief Plaque (Kazari-gawara / Gaku-gawara) with Gold Highlights, Sacred Jewel (Hoju), Zodiac "Tatsu" (辰), Stand & Box – Sculptural Japanese decorative roof-tile plaque (kazari-gawara / gaku-gawara, 美術陶器 額瓦) moulded in silver-grey smoked ceramic (ibushi-gawara tone) with a curving tile profile, notched corners, and hollow-moulded reverse. – High-relief East Asian dragon (Ryu / Tatsu) surging from swirling clouds (zuiun) and foaming waves, finished with burnished gold highlights across the scales, horns, whiskers, three-toed claws, and the sacred wish-fulfilling jewel (hoju / nyoi-hoju) beneath its jaw. – Accented with the raised gold zodiac character "Tatsu" (辰, Year of the Dragon) at the upper right and an impressed square kiln/potter seal at the lower left, complete with two upper suspension holes, braided golden hanging cord, black tabletop stand, and original box. Summary: A Japanese fine-art ceramic roof-tile plaque (bijutsu toki gaku-gawara / kazari-gawara) celebrating the Dragon (Tatsu, 辰), fifth sign of the East Asian zodiac and guardian of water, rainclouds, and fortune. Fashioned in the arched silhouette of a traditional Japanese clay roof tile (kawara) with a matte silver-grey ibushi finish, the plaque stages a high-relief dragon emerging from turbulent waves and curling clouds beside a golden wish-fulfilling jewel (hoju). Burnished gold highlights trace the ridges of the sculpture against the smoky pewter-grey body. Complete with its folding black stand, golden hanging cord, and gold-inscribed box, it is ready for tabletop or wall display. High-Relief Dragon, Sacred Jewel (Hoju), and Gold Highlights Viewed across the full-frontal photographs (flat and standing on its black stand) and in the high-resolution left- and right-half close-ups, the plaque unites roof-tile form with detailed relief sculpture: - The Coiling Dragon and Sacred Jewel (Hoju): At the centre-left, the dragon's fierce head turns in profile with bulging eyes, flaring nostrils, open jaws with bared teeth, branched horns, and long whiskers. Directly beneath its lower jaw rests a prominent, three-pointed golden wish-fulfilling jewel (hoju / nyoi-hoju)—the Buddhist and East Asian emblem of granted wishes and spiritual sovereignty. To the right, the dragon's sinuous body coils through clouds and waves, its overlapping scales and three-toed claws brushed with warm metallic gold highlights. - Clouds, Waves, Zodiac Kanji, and Impressed Seal: Deeply carved scrolling clouds (zuiun) above and foaming wave crests below frame the dragon. At the upper right stands the raised gold kanji character "Tatsu" (辰, Dragon), while the lower-left corner bears a crisp, recessed square potter's or kiln seal containing two stylized kanji characters. Hollow-Moulded Reverse (Ura) and Kawara Tile Construction The full view of the reverse side (ura) reveals the authentic tile-moulding technique behind the deep relief. Rather than a flat slab, the silver-grey ceramic back is hollow-moulded to follow the negative contours of the front sculpture in smooth, undulating recesses, framed by a flat peripheral border rim with stepped corner notches, a raised rectangular central lug (boss), and two reinforced circular suspension holes along the upper rim. Japanese Kawara Tile Craftsmanship and Auspicious Dragon Symbolism Since clay roof tiles reached Japan in the Asuka period (588 CE), master tilemakers (onishi) in Japan's great tile centres—highlighted on the map, including Sanshu (Aichi), Awaji (Hyogo), and Sekishu (Shimane)—have sculpted protective roof tiles and relief plaques (kazari-gawara). In Japanese architectural belief, the water-commanding dragon holding the sacred hoju jewel serves as a talisman against fire and a symbol of household safety (kanai anzen) and surging prosperity. Interior Display, Accompanying Accessories, and Condition - Display: Placed upright on its black stand in a Japanese tokonoma alcove or hung by its golden cord in a European interior, the silver-grey ceramic and gold relief command immediate visual presence. - Accompanying Items: Original grey fiber-patterned cardboard box inscribed in gold foil "Bijutsu Toki Gaku-gawara" (美術陶器 額瓦), folding black tabletop stand, and braided golden-yellow hanging cord. - Condition: Unused condition for the ceramic plaque, stand, and cord, with crisp relief modelling, clean hollow-moulded reverse, and no chips or cracks; the outer box shows light storage creases along the edges. A little more of this dragon tile plaque's story awaits its new owner. This listing contains AI Visualisations. Please refer to the original photographs for the actual object condition. Shipping & Handling Shipped from Japan, carefully packed to protect the ceramic plaque and presentation box, with tracking provided. We guarantee this piece is as described.