Chinese Horizontal Panel with Pierced Work Dragon Motif

Dragons do not usually come with this much air.

This horizontal panel with pierced work dragon motif comes from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the late 18th century. It is carved elm wood. Wealthy families in Shanxi's courtyard houses had panels like this set above doors and windows, letting in air and light and showing off the dragon, an emblem of power. Deep, open carving shows dragons twisting among clouds, their scaled bodies threading through the gaps. A plain elm frame surrounds the scene, with knots visible in the grain and two small metal hanging mounts along the top. Fifty-six inches wide.

The light behind it does half the work.