Ranma are wood carvings that were typically used architecturally as a transom over Japanese sliding doors to let air and heat pass from one side to the other when the doors are closed. Many, as in this collection, were two sided so they could be seen and appreciated from either side of the door. Chinese wood carving is often gilded, while otherwise quite similar to Japanese. Japanese wood carving of various subjects is only sometimes over-painted with gold gilt. This collection has examples of both. Two of the Japanese seven ranma examples in the collection feature hawks in pine forests. Other images are of iconic Japanese scenes.
