Antique Chinese Rug | 295 x 245 cm | Nr. 17623

Floral China rug, red with border

Origin	China
Dimensions	295 cm x 245 cm (= 7.23 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	90.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1920
Colour	red, silver grey
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 that were used as tents and saddle gear, 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 solely for export to Europe and North America.

 

Pattern

The edge of the rug is framed by a decorative border. The border forms a beautiful contrast with the centre.

The surface of this China rug has a mottled look. The shifts in tone and the light-and-dark shadings of the pile yarn run across the length of the rug, making the colours shimmer and keeping the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour shifts, known as abrash, give the rug a livelier feel. The mottling comes about because the wool of this China rug was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural pigments are absorbed to differing degrees.

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 China rug is red. The border is worked in silver grey, pink and dark blue.

 

Condition

This China rug has a story to tell. It was hand-knotted around 1920. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, partly restored condition. The pile has become somewhat thinner over the years. We have not restored this China rug because we feel it has a special presence exactly as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course gladly restore the rug for you. Either way, this China rug will bring 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.