Antique Chinese Rug | 301 x 272 cm | Nr. Z-2915

Antique Chinese rug, dark blue with border

Origin	China
Dimensions	301 cm x 272 cm (= 8.1872 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	120.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1880
Colour	Dark blue, Beige
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 140 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 decorated surround (border) forms a wonderful contrast to 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 dark blue. The border is worked in dark blue and beige.

Condition

This Chinese rug has had admirers before you. It was hand-knotted around 1880. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The pile is worn in places. The rug has a hole roughly 5 cm in diameter. We haven't restored this Chinese rug, because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If you would like us to, we will of course happily restore it for you. Either way, this Chinese rug will give you pleasure for decades to come.

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.