Pair of Chinese Courtyard Doors with Iron Butterflies, c. 1850

This impressive set of doors dates to the turn of the century and originated as the outermost entrance gate to a traditional courtyard home in northern China. Crafted of locust wood and hand-worked iron, the rustic doors have developed a fantastic texture from years of use. The original layer of dark brown lacquer has eroded with an inimitable crackle, revealing the beautiful wood grain underneath. The door fronts are reinforced with studded iron bands and decorative iron plates in the shape of clouds or ruyi. The doors are fitted with a simple iron latch and four round door pulls...

This elegant, 19th-century door panel evokes life in a traditional courtyard home, where the openwork lattice design allowed light and air to flow into the inner rooms while maintain...

A hallmark of Chinese architecture, tall door panels such as these were used in provincial courtyard homes to easily open up a room to the outdoors. Designed with solid wood panels instead of lattice windows, these door panels were likely installed facing the street, used to protect the home rather than provide decoration. The doors were originally linked by hinges set in opposite directions, allowing the doors to fold upon themselves as they open. Instead of the elaborate carvings often found on Qing-dynasty doors...

A hallmark of Qing-dynasty domestic architecture, tall lattice panels such as these were used in provincial courtyard homes to allow light and air into a room whilst maintaining priv...