This is a beautiful and intricately crafted depiction of The Temple of Heaven, one of the most symbolic and recognised buildings of Beijing. Originally built in 1420, it was extended over the years by two of the Qing Dynasty Emperors. Historically, the Ming and Qing Emperors would travel each year from the Forbidden City to the Temple on the winter solstice and in the first month of the lunar calendar to worship, offer sacrifices to heaven and to pray for good harvests. Hand crafted using the ancient Chinese technique of straw patchwork and using vivid colours combined with a dark velveteen background, the magnificence of the Temple has been artfully captured. Straw patchwork is a once lost Chinese folk-art form, originally found in the royal collection of the Sui Dynasty (581-681 AD). These age-old techniques were rediscovered in the latter part of the Twentieth Century and through years of experimentation and research have now once again been perfected. The process begins by soaking wheat straw and then smoking, steaming and bleaching it. The straw is then flattened and the huge variety of colours produced through ironing the surface and therefore carbonising the strands. Finally the straw is cut and woven at which point it is formed into the amazing images represented by Mr. Cui artwork. The artist himself has over thirty years experience and has honed his craft to perfection during that time, becoming incredibly masterful at manipulating the many thousands of fine straws required to fashion a piece of work of this magnitude. Three-dimensional and raised from the background on which it is presented, this is an astounding representation not only of the ancient technique of straw patchwork, but of the Temple of Heaven itself. This would make a perfect gift for someone special, be they family member or friend and would look fantastic in either a modern or traditional home.