Mid-20th Century Chinese and East Asian Rugs

The shaped charcoal sub-field displays a complex flower, leaf and stem rootless creation, within corners with semi-peonies and flower trails alongside the sub-field. Cerulean blue bo...

Antique Chinese, Art Deco rug. Size: 8'3" x 9'9".

A vintage Chinese Art Deco throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 2' 8" x 3' 9" The Craft of the hand-knotted carpet in China, and the surrounding areas including Mongolia and Tibet, extends into the early centuries of the first millennium, C.E., but we really have a firm grasp only beginning in the later 16th century with large, very coarsely woven carpets, often depicting dragons, created for the Imperial Forbidden City palaces. Chinese carpets have always been commercial and there are no tribal groups responsible for any of the carpet weaving strains. When the Ming Dynasty fell in 1644, with no Imperial patrons, production moved to the city of Ningxia in north central China where several workshops turned out more finely woven pieces for the Mandarins of the administrative Ch’ing bureaucracy and well-to-do merchants. Ningxia was the major Chinese carpet center up through most of the 19th century, with first allover and then medallion designs on cotton foundations in medium weaves. Palettes were initially limited to yellows, dark blue and cream, but later widened to include reds, browns and even green. These antiques were the first Chinese carpets to be exported to the West and they fitted in well with the craze for Chinese blue-and-white porcelain in the second half of the 19th century. Ningxia also wove shaped and rectangular small rugs for saddle underlays, chair (“throne”) seats and shaped backs, pillar carpets with dragons or monks for Buddhist monasteries, and long divided runners for monastery meditation halls. These small rugs are among the most collectible of all Chinese weavings. Weavers from Ningxia set up workshops in the capital Peking (Beijing) in the 1860’s and began weaving Western room sizes for export, primarily to America. In blue – and – white and polychrome palettes, with round wreath medallions, precious objects, seasonal flowers, paeonies, lotuses, fretwork, clouds, butterflies and bats, all relatively spaciously drawn. The round “Shou” (Good Luck) character is also a prominent decorative motif. There are also a few Peking landscape pictorials with pagodas, houses, bridges, waterscapes and boats. Peking carpets were woven right up until WWII and production began again after the Cultural Revolution around 1970. They are moderately well-woven, on cotton foundations, exactingly executed and indisputably Chinese. Many are in the blue-and-white style. Nothing else looks like a Peking carpet and for a Chinese “look” in a room, they are absolutely indispensable. Sizes range from scatters and a few runners, through the popular 9’12’ size, to large carpets over 20’ which must have been special orders. The earliest Peking Revival carpets are pliable and fairly thin, but they became heavier and more compact in the 20th century, in competition with Art Deco carpets from Tientsin. The modern, post- 1970, pieces are in the traditional Peking style, but are a little too regular and neat. Exactitude has been favored over character, as hard to explain that as it is. There are a number of all-silk and silk-and –metal thread pieces, many with inscriptions purporting to link them with rooms in the Imperial palaces, bringing very substantial auction prices, but none are really antique. The genre emerged after WWI and the present demand comes from mainland Chinese. The silk piles often Stand in pattern relief against flat woven gold metal thread grounds. The inscriptions are apocryphal, the rugs are flashily opulent, perfect for nouveaux riches. The Art Deco period between the two World Wars saw a distinctive carpet industry developing in Tientsin (Tianjin) in northeastern China. These are highly prized for their transitional design character, neither overtly Chinese, nor abstractly modern/contemporary. Woven exclusively for export, usually by and for American firms, such as Nichols and Elbrook, they are totally in the “Jazz Age Modern” style of the 1920’s, often without borders, with abstract or abstracted patterns, and only with, at best, a few Chinese-y pattern elements. Vases asymmetrically placed in the corners are features of some of the more Chinese-y carpets. Open fields with floral sprays and branches growing in from the edges are anther design innovation. Often, Chinese motives have been re-imagined in more sharp-edged, abstract manners. Some have no references whatsoever to natural elements. The patterns are sharp and the rugs are never subdued, soft or restrained. The rugs are heavily constructed, with crisp, unfading dyes and medium to medium coarse weaves on cotton foundations. All are extremely well-executed, with none of the vagaries, variations or twists found on even high-quality Persian rugs. The majority are in the 9’ by 12’ format and a surprising number can be found in top condition. There also was a substantial production in Peking from, especially from the Fette factory. Elliptical and round carpets, and lighter, often pastel colors, were a specialty. Nothing looks like an Art Deco Chinese and they work well with traditional Chinese furniture and the most modern decor as well. These is no substitute for a good Chinese Art Deco carpet. Chinese carpets also include small scatters from Tibet, with high quality wool, floating dragons and allover textile patterns. The colors of vintage and modern pieces are bright, but there are antique small rugs...

A lovely vintage Pao-Tao rug, handwoven in China circa 1940. The design features a single Fenghuang bird in front of a flowering tree on a deep indigo field. This mythical bird is an...

A vintage Chinese Art Deco room size carpet handmade during the Mid-20th Century. Measures: 8' 11" x 11' 7".

The straw beige field displays a characteristic three moon medallion pattern, with two moons enclosing octogramme motives. Supporting scatter with butterflies, leaves and flower arr...

Hand knotted in wool from China circa 1950-1960, a vintage Art Deco rug joining Rug & Kilim’s Antique & Vintage Collection. Drawing on 1920s style in mid-century quality with a delic...

The semi-open burgundy field displays a large exuberantly flowering paeony plant at one end, with attendant vases and flowering stems. Matching floral bouquets ornament the other two...

A vintage Chinese Art Deco accent carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 6' 0" x 8' 9"

Vintage Chinese Deco Rug Size: 3'1" × 5'7" (93 × 170 cm) This charming vintage Chinese Deco rug from the early 20th century exemplifies the bold elegance and artistic flair of the Ar...

A vintage Chinese Art Deco room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 9' 2" x 11' 7".

1930s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 5'9" X 8'9" - 175 x 265 )

The warm rust red field runs out to all four sides and features a diagonally balanced design of corner rosette chains opposite to matching floating bouquets, leaving the center spaci...

Antique Chinese Peking rug. Size: 10'0" x 14'6".

A vintage Chinese Art Deco room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century with a pictorial design. Measures: 9' 6" x 12' 1".

A vintage Chinese Art Deco room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 10' 0" x 13' 6".

A vintage Tibetan throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 2' 10" x 4' 8".

A brilliant mid-20th century Chinese hand-knotted wool rug with a central floral medallion with lotus flowers, bamboo leaves, and flowering prunus blossoms, surrounded by more styliz...

A vintage Chinese Art Deco accent carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 6' 1" x 8' 8".

A vintage Persian Mashad carpet from the mid-20th century featuring a Chinese pictorial design of a dragon.

A vintage Chinese Art Deco throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 8" x 5' 11".

A vintage Chinese Art Deco throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century in blue. Measures: 2' 11" x 4' 10".

A vintage silk Chinese carpet from the mid-20th century.

Antique Indian rug, Size: 7'9" x 42'6".

An antique East Turkestan Khotan carpet from the second quarter of the 20th century.

2nd Quarter of 20th Century Chinese Horse Cover ( 2' 6" x 4' 6" - 76 x 137 cm)

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 9'2" x 11'10" - 280 x 360 )

An exceptional mid-20th century silk rug featuring an intricate dragon motif throughout, symbolizing power and prosperity. The rug measures approximately 79 inches by 49 inches (6.6 ...

A vintage Chinese Peking accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a cerulean blue field, cream medallion, border, and corner spandrels, and dark blue guard...

Antique Chinese - Art Deco rug, size: 7'9" x 11'0".

1930s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 8'10" x 11'6"- 270 x 350 cm )

This is a lovely and rare antique Chinese Pictorial area rug handwoven in China in the 1940s and measures 4 x 6.6 ft.

A rare and unusual carpet woven in two colors with an all-over pattern of square devices. Although it was originally sourced in China, carpets of this type were influenced by the Eur...

A fantastic large-scale early 20th century Persian Heriz rug with a large stylized central floral medallion woven with an intricate floral and leave pattern, and living admits a fiel...

This vintage Chinese pictorial rug offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Great Wall of China, winding through majestic valleys and mountain ranges. The scene captures the grandeur and historical significance of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, rendered in a style that blends traditional artistry with storytelling elegance. Woven with a wool pile on a sturdy cotton foundation, the rug showcases a harmonious color palette of shaded blues, warm creams, and soft oranges, bringing depth and dimension to the landscape. Whether used as a decorative floor covering or displayed as a striking wall tapestry, this rug functions as both art and artifact—perfect for adding cultural richness and visual interest to any space. Dimensions: 2' 3" x 3' Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: China Material: Wool pile on a cotton foundation Condition: Wear consistent with age and use The Persian Knot Gallery, SKU 1562 Vintage Chinese Pictorial Rug, Great Wall of China Rug, Scenic Landscape Rugs, Art Deco Chinese Rugs, Chinese Art Deco Rugs, Art Deco Nichols Rugs, Vintage Art Deco Rugs, Rugs Art Deco, Art Deco Nichols, Chinese Carpet Dragon, Nichols Deco Rugs, Chinese Art Deco Nichols, Nichols Art Deco...

1930s N Chinese Mongolian Carpet ( 9' x 11'8" - 275 x 355 )

Depicting an attractive pictorial representation of classic Chinese temple and floral imagery, a vintage 9x11 Art Deco style piece from Rug Kilim’s coveted Antique Vintag...

Prepare to be transported to a world of imperial grandeur and timeless elegance with our Imperial Silk & Metal Thread Chinese Rug, a masterpiece that showcases the pinnacle of Chines...

An unusual vintage Indian rug woven with a Chinese Art Deco style pattern containing bouquets of flowers woven in various shades of green, pink, cranbe...

Originating from China between 1960, this antique traditional Peking rug is one of a select design featuring rich, repeated character symbols in its middle border. Hand knotted in high quality silk with subtle, luminous texture, the cream pink background is a lesser-known colourway among this antique family, complemented by the more vibrant series of turn of the century reminiscent floral and infinite knot...

Vintage Chinese Art Deco Rug Size: 9'9" × 19'1" (297 × 581 cm) This captivating Chinese Art Deco rug from the 1940s is a rare and refined example of Eastern artistry meeting modernis...

1930s American Braided Rug ( 6' - 183 R )

The wine-brown field is diagonally wide open and guided by asymmetric rose, peony and lotus corners bin bright polychromy. The dark pink border has a lace-like character with barbed ...

This floor mat once occupied a tribal long house of the Dayak Tribe of Borneo. It is made from woven dyed and natural coloured rattan fibres features...

1930s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 9'9" x 13'8" - 297 x 417 cm )

These handmade carpet wool rugs have airy and fiery elements that are grounded by splashing waves and jutting peaks that provide a sense of balance and tradition. Borrowing from the new and the old, this palatial Chinese carpet Oriental rug showcases a formal dragon medallion with traditional symbols and design elements that are depicted in a fresh, creative manner. Mauves and bright azures on the red rug inject the traditional palette of soft camel brown and clear blue with vivid ‘Art Deco...

This wool rug is one the unusual rugs of the 1970 s which are Art Deco rugs in the excellent condition with Cream background colour contrasting the stylish border and the motives. This patterned rug is a combination of a floral rug and geometric rug. This vintage rug is patterned by Chinese wool rug style. Originating in China, the hyper-stylized floral patterns, symmetrical in the royal border. Handwoven in the thick but plush wool pile, while the field is a brighter array of the mustard colour, gold hues contained with an uncommonly dimensional Chinese frame. Quick and easy to clean as a washable rug and can be a great idea as an elegant living room as an important interior object. Oriental Vintage Rug Art Deco Style Chinese Rugs...

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 6'2" x 8'8" - 188 x 264 )

1930s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 10' x 14' - 305 x 427 )

1930s Chinese Silk Carpet with Foo Dog Design ( 4' x 7' - 122 x 213 )

1930s Chinese Peking Carpet ( 14' x 17'6" - 427 x 533 )

Early 20th Century Central Asian Chinese Khotan Carpet 8'7" x 11'8" - 262 x 356

Step into a world of rare elegance with our exquisite Art Deco Rug, a true marvel from the 1950s that carries the allure of a bygone era. Crafted with precision in China, this rug is...

Hand-knotted carpet measuring 340 cm. x 242 cm. with high-quality wool. This ochre-colored Chinese rug is a beautiful vintage piece; it is presented with a timeless elegance in which...

Hand-knotted in wool and originating in China, this 6x9 vintage rug is an ode to Chinese art deco rugs from a new line in Rug & Kilim’s mid-century curations—inspired by classic sens...

This exquisite pair of Chinese Art Deco pictorial rugs from the mid-1900s showcases timeless artistry and elegance. Woven with a wool pile on a silk foundation, these pieces feature a classic vase motif, each vase filled with delicate tree flowers rendered in soft tones of brown, pale orange, and purple. Set against a serene pale green background, the design has a graceful and balanced composition that reflects the refined aesthetic of Chinese Art Deco style. Their slender dimensions and excellent condition make them perfect for wall display as decorative textile art, adding a touch of cultural sophistication to any space. Whether displayed as a pair or individually, these partial silk rugs offer a unique blend of luxury materials, subtle color, and symbolic design—ideal for collectors, designers, or anyone with an appreciation for fine Asian decorative arts. Dimensions: 2’ 1” x 3’ 1” Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: China Material: Wool pile on a silk foundation Condition: Excellent The Persian Knot Gallery, SKU 1964 Chinese Silk Rugs, Silk Pictorial Rugs, Chinese Pictorial Rugs, Vase Design Rugs, Vase Design Chinese Rugs, Art Deco Chinese, Chinese Art Deco, Art Deco Nichols Rugs, Vintage Art Deco Rugs, Rugs Art Deco, Art Deco Nichols, , Nichols Deco Rugs, Chinese Art Deco Nichols, Nichols Art Deco Carpet...

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet with Fuschia color 8' 9'' x 11' 2''

An early 20th century Chinese Peking rug with a large round central floral medallion flanked by two blossoming peonies on a beau...

1930s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 9' x 12' - 275 x 365 )

1930s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 7'10" x 9'8" - 239 x 295 )