Chinese Carved Bone Birdcage with Cloisonné Waterpots, circa 1850

Single-panel standing screens have been prevalent in fine Chinese interiors since as early as the Tang dynasty (618-906) and were used to section off a room, shield against bad spiri...

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...

The sweeping elegance of these 19th-century courtyard doors, with their intricate lattice panels, hides the mathematical brilliance required to create them. The wax-finished, knotty ...

Dated to the 19th century, this flat wooden panel is curiously etched with geometric patterns and dense triangle-work. Its original use remains unknown, perhaps it was a divination tool, a traveling game board...