This pair of impressive antique Chinese compound gates/ doors with elaborate hand-forged iron decoration is from the late Ming to early Qing period. On the more detailed photos offered, one can see the texture and the thickness of the hand-beaten iron work which differs from the reproduced pieces using quickly rusted flat iron sheet, cutting to the shapes of the objects desired. This kind of hand-forged iron work that is time consuming and often a long process of years to produce one piece of work is among a list of disappearing Chinese arts.
It was said that this kind of skill of working in iron was passed down visually rather than verbally because of the type of concentration needed working in a highly heated environment for a long time. The master concentrated in doing the actual work while the pupil stood behind watching and handing the tools.
The motifs on the ironwork here include: the coin design (the wealth), “Shou” character (longevity) in an early style, bat (blessing), and other twined leafy and floral patterns. Some of them are worn and some might have had repairs. A new lacquer coat was applied onto the iron work to prevent the iron from rusting more.
At the back of this pair of doors with very thick depth, comes the attached compartment of wood and metal for locking the doors. The compound doors were often used as the entrance of enclosed walls that protected and concealed a whole architectural living structure with court yard space inside the outer walls and sometimes in between the actual dwelling or dwellings.

Dimensions: 29 1/2" W x 95" H x 7 5/8" D

---