Cultural Background: Window Grates Blossom into Flowers of Memory
The intricate designs of Taiwanese iron window grates reflect the unique character of each homeowner, capturing their professions and future aspirations. These grates, much like pages of history, narrate the stories of each household, preserving countless memories of home.
Introduced to Taiwan in the 1920s, the ironworking techniques arrived during the popularity of the Art Deco movement, merging Western lines with Eastern elements. Designs often featured European floral patterns alongside traditional Asian symbols like peaches. However, many grates were dismantled during World War II for material requisition.
In the 1960s, with Taiwan’s economic boom, iron window grates became widespread. Every house proudly displayed these grates, which evolved in creativity and design. Beyond their primary function of security, they embodied aesthetic beauty. Common motifs included geometric shapes, flowers, landscapes, and Taiwanese fruits. Some homeowners incorporated their surnames, while shopkeepers showcased their goods and signage in the grates. Even songs were immortalized in the ironwork, creating a visual symphony of the homeowner’s life. This unique art form stands as a testament to the era’s special window grate artistry.
