The Shanghai Palm Court: A Nichols-Era Chinese Art Deco Rug of Refined Modernity

77452 Rare Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug, 08'11 x 11'06. Like a moonlit garden glimpsed through twilight, this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Art Deco rug unfurls with dreamlike elegance and profound symbolic depth. Its celestial navy field glows like an endless night sky, setting the stage for a lyrical interplay of blossoms and birds drifting in graceful harmony. A rich red inner border adds warmth and contrast, embracing the nocturne tableau, while the overall asymmetrical yet balanced composition reflects the golden age of Shanghai Art Deco in the 1920s and 1930s, where classical Chinese motifs converged with the bold palettes and refined modernist lines of the era. From corner to corner, signature blossoms bloom in exquisite profusion, each carrying timeless meaning. Plum blossoms, peonies, lotuses, and chrysanthemums — the revered Four Gentlemen — unfold as symbols of the seasons and of human virtues: resilience, honor, purity, and longevity. The plum blossom’s delicate blooms rise defiantly in winter; the peony bursts forth in spring with opulent promise of wealth; the lotus lifts itself unsullied from summer waters; and the chrysanthemum radiates autumn’s golden serenity. Interspersed among them, vines and berries weave arabesques across the surface, suggesting both divine order and organic freedom, a duality at the heart of Chinese art. At the crown, a luminous lantern descends, radiating festivity and guiding light. Across the field, songbirds flit with wings outstretched, symbols of transcendence and spiritual freedom. Along the lower border, a pair of mandarin ducks rests among reeds and water lilies — eternal emblems of fidelity and marital harmony. These painterly creatures, poised in mid-flight or repose, are not mere decoration but custodians of deeper meaning, enriching this exquisite work of art with layers of cultural resonance and quiet storytelling. The taupe outer border completes the exclusive masterpiece, scattered with blossoms and sprigs, its softened tones evoking a garden wall kissed with ivy...

77454 Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug, 08'08 x 11'06. Steeped in tradition and imbued with an undeniable elegance, this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Art Deco rug is a magnificent t...

This early 20th-century Chinese Art Deco rug exudes timeless elegance and symbolic beauty. The cream central field creates a luminous, serene backdrop, while the wide indigo border g...

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet by Nichols Workshop 9' x 11' 8''