These windows of a bygone era are unique to Goa. Many of such windows are making a comeback, both in appreciation and preservation. In the past they adorned the houses of the rich, the 'battkars' (landlords) and the affluent.
Basically, the window is set into the main wooden framework that is embedded into the wall that holds a full length latchable double doors on the inside. The main useful features of this type of double leaf window is to let the light pass through while the window is shut while keeping the elements and insects out.
The window itself is quite an intricate pattern mastered and perfected by Goan carpenters over the centuries.
It consists of vertical wooden strips into a timber framework, slotted to accept square pieces from the nacre of the mother-of-pearl shell which are inserted into these slots.
The transoms over such kinds of a windows are permanently fixed to the top portion of the window frames which are made in a variety of sizes, shapes and patterns.
In each of the window leaves pictured above are small square clear glass openings, each one set into the lower middle part of window. These openings are actually at an average human standing eye level on the inside. They serve a clever purpose for the inhabitants to have an unobtrusive look of the outside, but inhibits anyone looking in because of the sheer height of the plinth level of such houses in addition to the height at which the clear glass openings are made. Hinged to the main frame, these windows are provided with latches on the inside and metal hooks to keep them open and at the same time to prevent them from slamming shut due to a sudden gust of breeze. There is a solid wooden door on the inside of this window.
Invariably though one may notice, for some reason these are mostly found to be painted in blue, visible in the villages, cities and towns in Goa.
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