Antique Chinese Rug | 346 x 270 cm | Nr. 19887

Floral antique Chinese rug, grey-beige 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. 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 110 years old, which alone makes it something really special. Antique rugs like this Chinese rug are as popular as ever and fetch top prices at renowned auction houses.

Pattern

The lush floral motifs of this Chinese rug are elegant and wonderfully varied. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

The decorated surround (border) forms a wonderful contrast to 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 grey-beige. The border is worked in grey-beige, dark blue and light brown. In the dusky pink centre, dark blue and beige are combined.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this China rug. It had owners before you who valued it and lived with it. A few irregularities in the light, plain section of the pile are proof of its great age. It was hand-knotted around 1910. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it with care. That is why it is – despite its age – 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.