Chinese Door Lintel Depicting Animals & Foliage

Eight feet of animals running through a forest that refuses to thin out.

This door lintel depicting animals and foliage comes from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. It is carved elm wood. The merchant families of Shanxi are remembered for richly carved houses, and doorways drew particular attention. Deer-like creatures, lions and birds move through dense blossoms and curling leaves, cut so deeply that open air shows through in places. Cloud scrolls close off each end, and a plain molding runs along the top. It stretches 100.75 inches wide, 13 high and 6 deep.

Passing beneath it, one would not be blamed for looking up.