Window gratings were once a ubiquitous sight in Taiwan. Starting around the 1950s, homeowners began installing stylized metal barriers in front of their windows to keep out thieves. But gratings soon became more than a theft-deterrent. They turned into elaborate, labor-intensive works of art that reflected the tastes and interests of those who commissioned them. Today stylized gratings are mostly lost to history, although you can still find hidden treasures where you least expect.