China rug in pure silk | 330 x 69 cm | Nr. 18917

Floral China runner in pure silk, dusky pink with border and motif

Origin	China
Dimensions	330 cm x 69 cm (= 2.28 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: pure silk Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	250.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1980
Colour	Dusky pink
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Rugs were probably known in China very early on. The Mongol invasion around 1279 brought Central Asian rugs into the country, where they served as tents and saddlery, and gave a boost to the local production that most likely 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 produced in China solely for export to Europe and North America. This piece belongs to a bedside rug set (see Nr. 18915)

Pattern

The edge of the rug is framed by a surround (border). The border forms a splendid contrast to the centre.

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 dusky pink. In the cream-white centre, olive green and turquoise are combined.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this China rug. It had owners before you who treasured and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1980. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though only partly restored, condition. In a few places this piece is quite heavily worn. We have not fully restored this China 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 further for you. We can bring almost any rug back to 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.