Chinese Lattice Designs

Rating:
Summary: A Reference Book That Makes A Great Gift
Review: This remarkable book began as a momentary hobby when the author was sightseeing in 1916. He spent the next two decades or so collecting over 1,000 designs in China (primarily near Chengtu) that span three millennia. In this book, he classifies them into 26 general types, arbitrarily assigning a letter of the alphabet to each.

The book is a great gift for anyone interested in design, ranging from blacksmiths to architects. It is also an excellent reference and makes for interesting leisure "reading" when one is in the mood for visual patterns rather than verbal concepts.