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Fanciful Latticework on Doors and Windows
It is a grand feast for the eyes when lingering on the
lines of China's antique doors and windows, which are legacies from the Ming
(1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, and when appreciating the excellent
workmanship, wood, and styling. The doors and windows, elaborately carved with
latticework (a kind of openwork in which strips of wood or metal are fastened
together in a cross, thereby forming square- or diamond-shaped spaces in
between) and bas-reliefs (carvings that rise from the background), have become
the hallmarks of classic antique Chinese architectural ornamentation as well as
furniture.
Fanciful latticework
The latticework of diverse and elaborate designs that characterizes the
traditional doors and windows has exerted a far-reaching influence on Chinese
architectural ornamentation. In ancient times, one's house usually told much
about his or her taste, status, and wealth. As a result, when a person had a house built for
him or her, he or she paid much attention to its architecture.
In some window latticework you may still find thin layers of gold foil, which
indicates the houses' past eminence, while some carved boards feature geometric
variations of Buddhist symbols. Others are carved with poems and lyrics, or even
calligraphy and paintings, which implies that literary families once lived in
the houses.
Traditional Chinese doors and windows display a wide range of latticework
motifs that are a reflection of the Chinese philosophy on the harmony between
man and nature.
Latticework motifs on doors, partitions, and windows are mostly derived from
traditional designs with auspicious meanings, such as storks, deer, kylins
(Chinese mythical beasts), pied magpies, bats, peonies, and fu (the Chinese
character for happiness), all symbolizing longevity, good health, and wealth.
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