WowCat | A Guardian from the Rooftops of Yunnan

On the rooftops and above the doorways of traditional houses in Yunnan, China, a mysterious creature has watched over generations of families.

It is known as Wamao, or the Tile Cat. Despite its name, the traditional figure is often inspired by the tiger, with wide-open eyes, an expressive mouth, prominent teeth, and an exaggerated, imaginative form. Placed high upon the roof, Wamao was traditionally believed to protect the household, ward off misfortune, and invite peace and good fortune into the home.

There is no single, fixed form of Wamao. Each region and each artisan gives the guardian a different personality: fierce, strange, primitive, humorous, or unexpectedly charming. This freedom of expression and powerful folk imagination form the foundation of the WowCat collection.

Inspired by Wamao's distinctive eyes, mouth, teeth, and protective presence, we reinterpret the traditional rooftop guardian as a series of contemporary silver jewelry, necklaces, and pendants. Rather than reproducing a particular historic figure, we use metal, sculptural details, and traces of the handmade process to bring the spirit of this Yunnan tradition into modern everyday life.

The name WowCat is itself a meeting of two languages. The Chinese word wa, meaning a roof tile, has a sound that echoes the English exclamation wow. The name therefore connects the cultural origin of Wamao with a sense of surprise, curiosity, and delight.

Each WowCat creation is a small guardian that has stepped down from the rooftop. It no longer watches over a house. It travels with the person who wears it.