Old Chinese rug | 59 x 58 cm | Nr. Z-1427

Old Chinese rug, light red with border and medallion

Origin

Rugs were in all likelihood known in China very early on. The Mongol invasion around 1279 — the Mongols brought Central Asian rugs with them and used them as tents and saddlery — gave a boost to the local production that probably already existed in China at the time. An exhibition in Saint Louis in the USA in 1903 awakened interest in Chinese rugs in the Western world. Soon afterwards, rugs were being made in China purely for export to Europe and North America. This old Chinese rug is around 90 years old and a real collector's piece.

Pattern

The ornate border forms a wonderful contrast with the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

At the middle of this Chinese rug's central field sits the symmetrical centre, also known as the medallion. The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, so that the medallion seems to float on the field.

The background of this Chinese rug is light red. The border is worked in terracotta and dark blue. In the terracotta centre, dark blue and beige are combined.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Chinese rug. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1930. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

Material

China rugs are hand-knotted from silky, lustrous wool. For our high-quality China rugs, the wool is obtained by gently shearing live sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a number of impressive properties: thanks to the natural lanolin in the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is naturally proofed against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The knot density is relatively low – as is typical of Chinese rugs – and the pile is left long.

The weft and warp threads of this China rug are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and stretchy, which makes it ideal for a hard-wearing foundation weave.