Antique Chinese Rug | 406 x 311 cm | Nr. Z-4159

Floral antique Chinese rug, dark blue with border

Origin	China
Dimensions	406 cm x 311 cm (= 12.6266 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	200.000
Pile height	8mm
Year of manufacture	1910
Colour	Dark blue, light brown
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Rugs were in all likelihood known in China very early on. The Mongol invasion around 1279, which brought Central Asian rugs into the country 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 antique Chinese rug is a collector's piece. It is around 110 years old, and that alone makes it a truly special piece. Antique rugs such as this Chinese rug are as popular as ever and are auctioned at top prices by renowned auction houses.

Pattern

The decorated surround (border) forms a beautiful contrast to the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

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 background of this Chinese rug is light brown. The overall impression is also dominated by dark blue and light brown. The border is worked in dark blue and light brown.

Condition

This Chinese rug has a story to tell. One corner is slightly damaged. It was hand-knotted around 1910. We have cleaned it thoroughly and carefully 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.