Imbued with history and cultural meaning, this 19th century Chinese Peking rug is a masterful expression of traditional symbolism and timeless design. Handwoven in rich indigo wool — a color of deep significance in Chinese art, associated with scholarship, wisdom, and the celestial realm — this room-size rug features a captivating array of auspicious symbols of great beauty and cultural resonance.
The central Foo Dog medallion, the butterflies, moths, and clouds that populate the field, and the golden geometric border with pale green and yellow accents all carry specific meanings within the symbolic vocabulary of Chinese culture: the Foo Dog protects the home and repels negative energy, butterflies represent transformation and joy, clouds symbolize heavenly blessing and good fortune. Taken together, they create a textile of extraordinary spiritual richness and decorative power. Chinese Peking rugs, woven in the workshops of Beijing and the surrounding region from the late 19th century onward, occupy a unique place in the world of antique carpets — distinguished by their open, meditative designs, their luminous palette of soft naturalistic colors, and a design vocabulary drawn from the deep wells of Chinese art, philosophy, and symbolism. Where Persian rugs fill every inch with pattern, the great Peking rugs embrace emptiness as a design element, drawing on the Taoist aesthetic of stillness and the garden traditions of classical Chinese civilization.
- Dimensions: 9' 10" x 13' 3"
- Date of Manufacture: 4th Quarter of the 1800s
- Place of Origin: China (Beijing)
- Material: Wool pile on a cotton foundation
- Condition: Wear consistent with age and use
SKU: 2185
