18th Century Qing Dynasty Chinese Courtyard Doors - a Pair

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A pair of late 18th century Qing Dynasty Chinese courtyard doors in hand forged iron and painted elm wood (yumu) … Read more A pair of late 18th century Qing Dynasty Chinese courtyard doors in hand forged iron and painted elm wood (yumu) . These were once the main entrance to a Siheyuan, a single extended family’s rectangular dwelling with a central garden. By tradition, the southeast facing doors of the family compound would also feature some symbol of good luck or an identifying mark of the clan. These richly patinated and yellow ochre doors bear mirroring images of the Monkey King, who in ancient lore borrowed a magical plantain fan from the demon Raksasi. This fan had the power to blow one’s enemies away and to extinguish even the fiercest flames, making it an effectively potent talisman for the front gate of the home. Measure 85” high, 50” wide (25” each panel) See less