• #ARW-001 A Beautiful Large Antique Chinese Lattice Window with a Gourd-Like Design in Center

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    A beautiful large antique Chinese lattice window with a gourd-like design in the center, constructed and carved in intricate workmanship that forms an elegant overall design.

  • #ARW-002 Massive Size Architectural Railing Made frome the Finest Grade of Ju Wood

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    This incredible, probably 10 feet long or longer, massive size architectural railing is made of the finest grade of Ju wood can be found and is composed of all the best examples of Chinese woodwork, either in form, design, joinery, carving, craftsmanship, you name it. Such railing came from a very large and prominent building and possibly from nearby Suzhou/ Jiang-Zhe area where the best Chinese woodwork was produced once. Please enjoy the detailed photos provided below.

  • #ARW-003

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  • #ARW-004

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  • #ARW-005

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  • #ARW-006 Antique Large Size Ming Dynasty Lattice Window with Daoism Motives

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    (明代道教雕刻格子窗) This stunning Ming Dynasty large size antique Chinese carved lattice window is among the most important Chinese cultural relics in Chinese woodwork. It came from a prominent old Chinese architecture or possibly a Daoist temple. It is by far the most elaborate and the only painted antique window we have seen with Yin-Yang and the I-Ching ( 易經) Ba-Gua (八卦) design. In the middle of the window is a carved Yin-Yang(陰陽) symbol composed of two Ni-Qiu like fish which can represent the chaos of the beginning of the universe. Such concept was further developed into the Heaven (Sun) and the Earth (Moon), the Yin (Earth) and the Yang (Heaven). Yin-Yang is the base and the source of Daoism(道家文化或道家哲學) . It represents two different life forces with the moon, the earth, being the quiet and the sun, the heaven, being the active. In Chinese Daoism, the Yin and the Yang not only are the two opposing force/ energy, they also correspond and compliment to each other, moving with each other at all time. They are the source of the universe, the creators of all things growing and alive, together they form the Qi (氣) energy. On this very rare window, there are two bats with long open wings at the right and the left of the Yin-Yang. Further out, there are eight bats surrounding the second most inner Eight-Parameters (Eight Measures). Together with the other two bats, there are ten bats in total which is the “extreme blessing(全福) ”. Towards the outside, away from the eight bats, one finds three small wooden sticks in white or cream color on each of the eight sides. Some of these white sticks are decorated with carved indented and colored red dots. This red dot separates the single white stick into two parts. As one can see, there are one, two, or three red dots on some sets of three white sticks set or none at all. Together, these elements with the layers of the eight-sided map form a Ba-Gua (八卦) which is also the Chinese Lunar calendar that was made according to the elements of nature and changing seasons. It also has to do with the earth moving by itself and around the moon and the sun. Ba-Gua derived from I-Jing, the ancient Chinese classic, the Book of Change. Ba-Gua is also used in Chinese astrology, Zi-wei-dou-shu (紫微斗數), the Life Art of Calculation for Astrology or Prediction. This unusual and beautifully designed and executed old Chinese window, possibly dated back to the 16-17th century during the Ming Dynasty, with the most important Daoist concept and philosophy behind it at this scale is rarely seen and is beyond comparison by any other similar windows if found at all. The colors used on this window were all made of organic ground minerals and vegetation. Two large wooden rods going horizontally and vertically across at the backside of the window are just added supports to prevent the window from warping due to the dry Mediterranean climate in California. Please enjoy all the additional detailed photos of this exceptional window offered. One sees the incredible design elements that form this window as well as its beautiful colors and fine carvings that together they hold the essence of one of the most important Chinese philosophies contained in this important Chinese woodwork. Dimensions: 58 1/2” H x 40 1/4” W x 1 3/4” D

  • #ARW-007 Set of Eight Carved Wooden Screen Doors with Patterned Glass and Enamel Work

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    This rare set of eight screen doors is composed of carved wood with old glass in floral pattern in different colors set in geometry and dome shape frame with gold-leaf. The center octagonal glass with a flat surface is etched and painted in enamel work with a different figure of a Chinese beauty in landscape for each glass. Doors like this carry the Gothic style glass artwork served as an actual supporting wall as part of the building architecture structure where the glass panels allowed for the light to go through and created an array of luxurious and lush colors within. This set of screen doors with an European flavor might have come from a foreign settlement near Shanghai area. It possibly can be dated to the late 1880's.

  • #ARW-008 Set of Four Antique Lattice Windows with Fruit and Vegetable Motifs

    Wooden Architectural Element

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    A set of four intricately carved antique Chinese lattice windows from the Jiang-Zhe area that includes cities like Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, and more, with lakes or rivers running through, or by the water. These windows are intricately carved with a variety of Chinese fruits and vegetables such as water fruits, corns, bamboo shoots, Lychee fruit nuts, Buddhist hand fruits, lotus roots, and many others, showing the geographical elements and cultural influence of the area in which the art work was created. The refine carving on this set of windows alignes with some of the best workmanship in other wood work, such as furniture, created in this area from the early time. The choice of subject with a theme in nature is a reflection of and is deeply rooted in the ancient Chinese philosophy. These lattice windows were used to shield heat or cold with shutters made of solid wood panels in the back that were up and closed, and to provid privacy as well. They also functioned as ventilation for the air when the shutters were down during the moist and hot weather. Chinese lattice woodwork is a genre of its own with incompassing skill and design element. Some of the wooden latticework, like this set, from the Jiang-Zhe area carries the literati taste and aesthetics like furniture and some other types of Chinese artwork, and is an important cultral asset of the traditional Chinese art.

  • #ARW-009 (set of 3)

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  • #ARW-010 (set of 12)

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  • #ARW-011

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  • #ARW-012 Pair of Very Large Size 17th Century Carved Lattice Windows

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    A pair of very large size graceful 17th century carved lattice windows from Jiang-Zhe area with distinct auspicious symbols and motifs such as carp, coin, water bird, twined circles, and Buddhist "Wan" symbol as well.

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2404 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060   

Phone: (831)457-4422   email: customerservice@shensgallery.com