Items Similar to Mid 19th Century Chinese Ningxia Carpet ( 17
10" x 17
10" - 545 x 545 )
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15
Mid 19th Century Chinese Ningxia Carpet ( 17
10" x 17
10" - 545 x 545 )
$243,750
$375,00035% Off
£185,697.02
£285,687.7235% Off
€211,924.22
€326,037.2635% Off
CA$342,526.44
CA$526,963.7535% Off
A$373,293.53
A$574,297.7435% Off
CHF 197,675.02
CHF 304,115.4235% Off
MX$4,483,648.55
MX$6,897,920.8535% Off
NOK 2,502,609.53
NOK 3,850,168.5035% Off
SEK 2,300,903.29
SEK 3,539,851.2235% Off
DKK 1,582,838.99
DKK 2,435,136.9135% Off
About the Item
Ningxia North Central China
17'10" x 17'10"
Circa 1850
Warp: cotton, off white, handspun, Z-4-S
Weft: cotton, off white, handspun, 2 shoots alternating
Pile: wool, 3 strand, handspun
Knot: asymmetric, open left, 48 knots per square inch
Sides: one cord, offwhite cotton wrapped
End: no original finish
This is a particularly large example of a Mandarin official’s carpet with a central medallion displaying nine lion dogs collectively symbolic of success on the national Chin Shih examination which provided guaranteed entry into the national administrative bureaucracy and the wealth devolving therefrom. The nine lion dogs are a rebus for success in the national bureaucracy. The apricot ground features 11 full or partial rows of tree paeonies, flower and stem. This carpet is particularly large and clearly was made for a highly placed official or the wealthy family of a recent graduate of whom great things were expected. The principal was probably Buddhist as indicated by the embroidered ball and precious objects in the medallion. The clouds surrounding the lion dogs form a broken, polychrome circle rather than the usual continuous cloud wreath. This is one of the several features indicating a bespoke order rather than a piece made for the market. Another indicator is the exceptional size, as the standard square Ningxia Mandarin carpet is about 12 to 14 feet square. The main border continues the colour combination, with a now apricot ground and paeonies among floral arabesques. The blue inner stripe is unusual with butterflies alternating with paired peaches of longevity. Surrounding the whole is a wide, dark blue plain band. The drawing is balanced in all directions, with nothing cut off or left incomplete. The medallion has three paeony rows below and four above, but it seems well centred. To have added another row at the bottom would have been technically more correct, but it would have made the carpet less than square, and squareness was an essential requirement. The notion that these square carpets were made for conforming dais platforms can be dismissed on an even cursory look at traditional Chinese houses. There are no daises. The only dais platforms are in the Forbidden City Imperial throne rooms and this is not an Imperial rug.
The condition is extraordinary. Such carpets were woven for the largest room of the house, the ancestor hall, and brought out only on important occasions like funerals, weddings, visits or holidays. Otherwise, they were rolled up and stored away. The handle is particularly thick and solid, and indicates a turn away from the softer and looser characteristic earlier Ningxia weave. Very few large Ningxia carpets are known and even fewer are in this exceptional state of perfect preservation.
The paeony is a traditional Chinese carpet design, but it is usually combined with butterflies, bats, fretwork or other elements. The close and allover display of paeonies is very unusual. The flower heads reverse direction at the approximate horizontal middle of the carpet. The carpet was originally more of a lacquer red as indicated by the verso. The logwood dye has, as is usual for Chinese carpets, changed to a mellow apricot.
As is standard, Ningxia carpets are not dated or inscribed, and it would be impossible to ascertain the original patron of the piece. In any case, his dwelling would have been most substantial with an ancestor hall twenty or more feet in width. The intended owner would have been highly placed in any case.
The exact workshop practices of the dozen or so workshops active at the time are not known, but the weavers, Hui Muslims, worked on vertical looms. Whether they employed partial cartoons for this exceptional piece is unknown, but it surely was well supervised. The central medallion probably had some sort of graphic guide, however.
About the Seller
4.8
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1995
1stDibs seller since 2019
449 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: New York, NY
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllEarly 19th Century Chinese Ningxia Carpet ( 10 8" x 12
- 325 x 365 )
Located in New York, NY
Early 19th Century Chinese Ningxia Carpet ( 10 8" x 12' - 325 x 365 )
Early 19th Century Chinese Ningxia Carpet, Circa 1800
This exceptional Ningxia carpet from early 19th century Ch...
Category
Antique Early 1800s Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
$152,750 Sale Price
35% Off
Free Shipping
Early 20th Century W. Chinese Baodou Carpet ( 6
6" x 7
- 198 x 213 )
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th Century W. Chinese Baodou Carpet ( 6'6" x 7' - 198 x 213 )
Category
Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
$19,500 Sale Price
35% Off
Free Shipping
Mid-19th Century W. Chinese Ningxia Carpet ( 4
10" x 5
6" - 147 x 168 )
Located in New York, NY
Mid-19th Century W. Chinese Ningxia Carpet ( 4'10" x 5'6" - 147 x 168 )
Category
Antique 1850s Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
$5,720 Sale Price
35% Off
Free Shipping
Superb Persimmon Color with Chinoiserie Pattern Antique Chinese Kansu Rug
Located in New York, NY
19th Century W. Chinese Gansu Carpet ( 6'2" x 6'7" - 188 x 200 )
Category
Antique 1880s Chinese Khotan Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
$12,220 Sale Price
35% Off
Free Shipping
19th Century Chinese Peking Carpet ( 7
7
x 9
6
-230 x 290 )
Located in New York, NY
19th Century Chinese Peking Carpet ( 7'7'' x 9'6'' -230 x 290 )
Category
Antique 1880s Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
Mid 19th Century W. Chinese Kansu Carpet ( 11
6" x 12
- 350 x 365 )
Located in New York, NY
Mid 19th Century W. Chinese Kansu Carpet ( 11'6" x 12' - 350 x 365 )
Mid-19th Century Western Chinese Kansu Carpet, Circa 1850
This exceptional Chinese Kansu carpet from the mid-19t...
Category
Antique 1850s Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
$146,250 Sale Price
35% Off
Free Shipping
You May Also Like
Late 19th Century Peking Carpet
Located in San Francisco, CA
This elegant Chinese carpet utilizes a traditional Chinese medallion surrounded by auspicious motifs including scholars’ scrolls, plants and butterflies. The spacing of ornament with...
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
Antique Peking Chinese Carpet
Located in Closter, NJ
In the 1860s an organized carpet industry was established under imperial patronage in Peking. These carpets tended to have tighter and finer weaves than their Ningxia counterparts, o...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Chinese and East Asian ...
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Antique Chinese Ningxia Carpet Rug, Late 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
Antique Chinese Ningxia Carpet Rug, Late 19th Century
This elegant Chinese Ningxia carpet draws a central roundel composed of lotuses flanked by slightly smaller roundels of the sam...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
Antique Chinese Ningxia Rug. 5 ft 10 in x 11 ft 3 in
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Early 19th Century Antique Chinese Ningxia Shabby Chic Rug, Country Of Origin: China, Size: 5 ft 10 in x 11 ft 3 in (1.78 m x 3.43 m), Circa Date: 19th century
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
The Noble Stillness: An Antique Chinese Peking Masterpiece of Scholarly Elegance
Located in Dallas, TX
72991 Antique Chinese Peking Rug, 08'09 x 11'05. Step into a world of imperial quietude with this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Peking rug—a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that captur...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool
19th Century Oversized Chinese Peking Rug in Tan Field with Navy
French Blue
Located in Barrington, IL
This 19th century oversized Chinese Peking rug is a timeless masterpiece, showcasing the refined artistry of traditional Chinese weaving. Featuring a soft tan field, the rug is beautifully framed by a navy blue primary border and a French blue secondary border, creating a serene and elegant palette that compliments both classic and modern interiors.
The field is adorned with delicate floral medallions and bird motifs, symbolic of harmony, peace, and natural beauty. Every element is thoughtfully arranged, offering a sense of rhythm and calm that enhances the spaciousness of larger rooms.
Despite being over 120 years old, this rug remains in very good condition, a testament to its fine craftsmanship and quality materials. Its enduring beauty and scale make it an exceptional choice for grand living rooms, formal dining areas, libraries, or gallery-style spaces.
A rare find in both size and design, this oversized Chinese Peking rug blends elegance, tradition, and functionality—perfect for collectors and connoisseurs of historic textile art.
Dimensions: 10’ 10” x 14" 4”
Date of Manufacture: 4th Quarter of the 1800s
Place of Origin: China
Material: Wool pile on a cotton foundation
Condition: Wear consistent with age and use
The Persian Knot, SKU: 2078
Vintage Tibetan Rugs, Tibetan Antique Rug, Tibet Antiques, Antique Tibetan Carpet, Antique Tibetan Carpets...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese and East Asian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
$13,520 Sale Price
45% Off
More Ways To Browse
Forbidden City
Lion Medallion
Chinese Savonnerie Carpet
Chinese Savonnerie
Peking Rug Orange
Phoenix Rug
Animal Print Rugs
Beijing Carpet
Tibet Tiger Rug
1970s Art Deco Chinese Rug
4 X 6 Antique Art Deco Rugs
Chinese Bird Rug
Hand Carved Bar Asian
Meditation Carpet
Pillar Rug
Crane Rug
Palace Chinese Rugs
Tibet Blue Rug