Woodcarving Sparrow Brace Decoration In The Shape Of A Horse In The Qiao Courtyard

The sparrow brace in the shape of a horse, usually built between two gate posts and under the eave, is a special feature of ancient architectures. In the Qing dynasty, it changed into ornaments with diverse forms and contents. The sparrow brace decorations in the Qiao courtyard are typical woodcarvings of the Qing dynasty. Because moswoodcarvings in the Qiao courtyard have been damaged, the technique used is to penetrate the wood, which makes it less solid than the solid material. So it is very important to protect and do some research on the woodcarving decorations in the Qiao courtyard.The art of the woodcarving decorations in the Qiao courtyard is tightly connected with ancient cultural value. The diverse forms and contents mean deep cultural symbolism. On one hand, they mean asking for happiness and health;on the other hand, wealth and status can be felt through them. The woodcarving decorations have reached unity during the course of solving the controversy between the decoration function and the separate appreciation value. And they fully display the architectural decoration art charm of Jin businessmen's courtyards.