Antique Chinese Rug | 265 x 183 cm | Nr. Z-588

Antique Chinese rug, light green with border

Origin	China
Dimensions	265 cm x 183 cm (= 4.85 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	160.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1920
Colour	Light green
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

 

Origin

Rugs were probably known in China at a very early date. 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 most likely 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 antique Chinese rug is a collector's piece. It is around 100 years old, and that alone makes it a truly special piece. Antique rugs such as this Chinese rug are as sought after as ever and fetch top prices at renowned auction houses.

 

Pattern

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

The colouring of this China rug is artful – even though it is pared back to just a few shades. The refined arrangement of the decorative elements works especially well within the overall composition. The proportions are generous, and the floating arrangement gives them a modern feel. Typical motifs are dragons, vases and peonies on abstracted leaves and tendrils. The motifs often sit in medallions placed in the centre or in the corners. Along the edge you will frequently find geometric forms, above all interwoven swastikas. The motifs resemble those on Chinese porcelain made during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The small degree of technical variation in the making of classic China rugs is a sign of a strict tradition that follows set rules. Despite the fairly coarse execution, the pattern is worked with exceptional precision.

The background of this Chinese rug is light green. The border is kept in beige.

 

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Chinese rug. It had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1920. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though only partly restored, condition. The pile has grown a little thinner over the years, in places noticeably so. We have not fully restored this Chinese rug because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course be happy to carry on restoring the rug for you. We can bring almost any rug back to a near-perfect 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.