I realize that most of Tolkien's art does not have this characteristic, but the peculair feature of the Shire's round doors and windows, stands out to me because of the above mentioned avatar.
This particular painting by Tolkien, of the front door of Bag End, strikes me as a mandala. Maybe it's not as complex as what a
Tibetan monk might create, but the resemblance is there. Anybody know anything about mandalas? I know Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung had their fingers stirring in this pot, and I've read plenty of Jungian interpretations of LotR. Am I just reading it into this painting, or is there something there?