Chinese Rugs and Carpets

An antique Chinese Ningxia square throw rug handmade during the early 20th century. Measures: 2' 3" x 2' 4" 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...

Of the carpets woven during the 30s at the Nichols & Co. Tianjin city looms in northern China, only a very limited number are decorated by the abstract patterns typical of the Art De...

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...

Vintage 1980s Chinese Peking Carpet ( 9'6'' x 12'4'' - 290 x 375 )

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 9' x 11' 8" - 275 x 356 cm )

Made with hand-knotted wool in China circa 1960-1970, this 5x7 vintage dragon rug is from a rare and exciting new curation of pictorials in Rug & Kilim’s classics. On the Design: ...

Handwoven in wool, this 8x11 contemporary rug by Rug & Kilim is inspired by antique Tudor rugs, flatweaves and tapestries—a new unveiling from the European rug collection. On the D...

Hand-knotted in wool and believed to originate from China circa 1920-1930, this 16x28 antique Chinese rug is a rare oversized masterpiece, and an exciting new curation from our colle...

The clear red field displays numerous Chinese vases and related objects with elaborate, colorful flowers, within a steel blue border of realistic lotuses. The pattern is asymmetric a...

78174 Distressed Antique Chinese Peking rug, 08'08 x 11'00. Effortless beauty and understated elegance, this hand-knotted wool distressed antique Peking rug beautifully embodies rust...

Continues the development of the carpets family with a new collection designed by Marco Oggian, characterized with a variety of bright colours and strong geometries. Discover Carpet ...

Contemporary European inspired Bessarabian floral wool rug by Doris Leslie Blau. Size: 9'1" × 12'5" (276 × 378 cm). This absolutely magnificent modern rug is inspired with the Classi...

The beige open field is centred by a miniature landscape roundel featuring a leafy tree growing from banded rocks. The border is similarly plain except for identical branch and f...

This early 20th-century Art Deco Chinese rug exudes tranquility with its soft natural wheat (light beige) field, framed by elegant gray and blue borders. The serene design features a...

The allure of the carpets from eastern Turkestan, better known as Samarkands, is best exemplified in the perfect balance between the force of the geometric design and the graceful el...

Early 20th Century Chinese Peking Carpet 9' 3" x 12'

A terrestrial/aquatic dragon rises from stylized waves while a celestial dragon descends from fungus whorl clouds with two flaming pearls in the plain areas of this black on black Ar...

From Rug & Kilim’s European collection, an 8x10 Tudor style flatweave with medallions & pictorial patterns in regal black, gold & off white. Handwoven in wool, a fine weave with coar...

This beige needlepoint Aubusson rug is a high-quality item, getting most of the attention in the rug store by clients because of the elegant c...

Mid-18th W. Chinese Ningxia Carpet Main Hall Carpet 11’9” x 12’ Mid 18th Century Structural Analysis: Warp:cotton,off-white,natural,Z-4-S,somewhat irregular; Weft:cotton,off-white,Z-4-S,winder plied, quite irregular;2 shots alternating; wefts thick and soft; Pile:wool,Z-4; Knot: PL/0 degrees warp depression/horiz. 6 x vertical 5 = 30 knots per square inch; knots somewhat irregular, some quite thin; [check for T knots along edges] Sides: two cords each of two body warps, inner directly weft-attached; figure eight sparsely weft yarn wrapped; Weft/knot ratio: 60/40 wefts predominant. Remarks: This is another variant on the popular Mandarin nine lion dog carpet...

Ningxia Pillar rug, XIX century. This special hand knotted carpet was wrapped around a pillar or a column of the buddhis temples or in the imperial palaces in China, Mongolia and Tibet ( in Tibet they were called Katum). This carpet surrounds the column creating a refined optical effect . This item brings in its decoration, a very important pattern of the imperial Chinese culture. Starting from the bottom, we can appreciate the proportion and the balance of the so called “Rainbow border”, consisting of parallel wavy stripes in a soft lovely combination of colors, radiating from the edge of the field. This kind of border was used only at the bottom of the rug in conjunction with the “sacred mountain” motif. The center of this pillar carpet is decorated with two opposite dragons linked by a bold “ruyi cloud” (in Chinese Ruyi means “as you wish”). The Ruyi cloud motif is used in earlier Chinese than are drifting clouds. The dragons represented in this pillar carpet, bring five claws, synonym of noble and monastic importance. The Chinese imperial carpets...

Antique Chinese silk rug, size: 8'2" x 9'4".

Antique Chinese Peking Rug in Navy Blue with Medallion Flower Vases and Vines. Antique Chinese rug. Chinese Peking rug. Keivan Woven Arts / rug 19-0802, country of origin / type: Ch...

A rare and beautiful early Chinese carpet characterized by an infinite repeat of parallel and offset rows of blue and ivory lotus blossoms, symbols of purity, on a two-tone yellow ba...

Antique Chinese Peking Rug, Size: 8'0"x 9'8"

A superb example of Art Deco weaving originating from China for the Western market. Finely knotted with silky wool with a floppy yet sturdy handle, a characteristic of the Fette-Li c...

Early 20th Century Chinese Peking Carpet ( 9' x 11'9" - 275 x 360 cm) Antique Chinese Peking Rug, Circa 1920 – 9' x 11'9" An elegant antique Chinese Peking rug, hand-knotted in woo...

19th Century W. Chinese Ningxia Carpet ( 10' x 11'4" - 305 x 345 )

A wonderful early 20th century Chinese Art Deco rug with a dark indigo field surrounded by a wide dark cranberry and a thin indigo border. Myriad auspicious flowers including peonies...

Rug Number 31405 Size 4' 3" X 6' 10" Design Peking Collection Antique/Vintage Material Wool Texture Pile Weave Origin China Age Antique

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 9' x 11'6" x 274 x 351 )

76698, New Persian Style Rug with Traditional Kirman Design. This opulent hand-knotted wool Persian Kirman style rug features an intricate centre medallion with a stylized floral mot...

An antique Central Asian Samarkand rug with two large central diamond medallions with contrasting repeating diamond field, surrounded by multiple geometric and floral borders. Mea...

1930s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 10' x 16' - 305 x 490 cm )

Mid 19th Century Chinese Ningxia Carpet with Foo Dogs 石獅 ( 12' 6" x 18' 2" - 380 x 555)

Handwoven in wool, this 9x14 contemporary rug is inspired by antique Tudor rugs and tapestries—-a new release from Rug & Kilim’s European collection. On the Design: Admirers of ...

19th Century Chinese Peking Carpet with a navy background and ivory border. ( 8' x 9'6" - 245 x 290 )

From the unusual style is recognized this beautiful Chinese carpet of the Art Deco period in bright colors and rather unusual. On the salmon pink background there is a cascade of flo...

This is a small antique silk Chinese textile woven during the beginning of the 20th century circa 1900 and measures 50 x 47CM in size. Its design is centered around a man that is hol...

A quiet yet sophisticated early 20th century Chinese Art Deco rug with a gray background surrounded by a wide pale pink border, and overlaid with a pair of lanterns hanging from a fl...

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...

Step into a world of rare elegance with our exquisite Art Deco Rug, a true marvel from the 1920s that carries the allure of a bygone era. Crafted with precision in China, this rug is...

71754, antique Chinese oval accent rug with Pictorial Phoenix design. This hand knotted wool antique Chinese oval rug features a pictorial oval medallio...

Chinese Peking Rug – Blue Floral Medallion – 300 × 211 cm This exquisite Chinese Peking rug, measuring 300 × 211 cm, showcases a timeless elegance with its deep blue field and intric...

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 8' x 9' 8'' - 245 x 295 cm )

Vintage 1980s Chinese Peking Carpet ( 9'4" x 12'3" - 284 x 373 )

A vintage Chinese Art Deco throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 1" x 4' 11".

Antique Chinese Peking rug, size: 12'4" x 19'6".

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 8'10" x 11'5" - 270 x 348 )

A brilliant Chinese Art Deco rug with a beautiful cranberry field surrounded by a wide grey border. Multicolored potted peonies, chrysanthemum, and prunus flowers are asymmetrically ...

This 2x10 antique Chinese textile runner is an incredibly rare and exciting new curation from Rug & Kilim—an early 19th century embroidery panel with a bold pictorial design, handwov...

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 9' x 11'6" - 275 x 350 )

Antique Chinese Silk Rug, Measures: 3' 5''x 5' 7''.

This attractive wool rug has been woven with an all-over repeating pattern in accents of beige, red and green. Vintage rugs are popular in today's market with both classic and contem...

A wonderful early 20th century Chinese pictorial Art Deco rug featuring a scholar's pavilion perched on an outcropping in a garden landscape with a pond in the foreground, a bridge w...

Handwoven in wool, this 8x10 contemporary rug is inspired by antique Tudor rugs and tapestries—-a new release from Rug & Kilim’s European collection. On the Design: Admirers of t...

Graceful and eye-catching, this vintage Chinese Art Deco rug features an elegant allover floral pattern set in a soft sage green field, framed by a bold royal purple border. The uniq...

An unusual early 20th century oval Chinese Art Deco rug with a cranberry center, surrounded by a meandering motif and floral patterned borde...

Antique Chinese Silk Rug, Size: 4' 0'' x 6' 0''

An amazing early 20th century Chinese Art Deco runner with a beautiful pale champagne colored field surrounded by a wide grey border. Auspicious peonies dot the field with potted vases...