China rug in pure silk | 94 x 62 cm | Nr. 17494

Floral China rug in pure silk, dark red with border and medallion

Origin	China
Dimensions	94 cm x 62 cm (= 0.58 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: pure silk Weft & Warp: pure silk
knots per m²2	1.820.000
Pile height	2mm
Year of manufacture	1980
Colour	Dark Red, Cream White
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 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.

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 China rug is cream white. The overall impression is also dominated by dark red and cream white. The border is kept in dark red. At the centre, dark red and lilac are combined.

Condition

You aren't the first to take a liking to this China rug. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1980. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The pile has grown a little thinner over the years. We have restored a few worn spots. We haven't restored this China rug any further, because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that's what you'd like, we'll of course be happy to restore it for you. Either way, this China rug will bring you joy 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.

On this China rug even the foundation is made of pure silk. Because the weft and warp threads are thin yet hard-wearing, a particularly fine knotting – and with it a particularly fine pattern – becomes possible.