Q&A: A Chinese Silk?

Question:

Hi, I found your website and it has some good info.  I'm going to attach the pics I've got, see if you can tell me anything.  It belongs to my friend, she thinks it's a Chinese Silk Rug, her parents 'may have' bought it in China, but
she's not sure. This lady is 65 yrs old, and her Dad used to keep care of it like his own baby.  Let me know what you think this is.... Size is 4'1" x 6'1".  I appreciate your time.

-anonymous

Response:

Hello,

Nice example.  Try testing for true silk!  It may very well be. 

This is what would be considered a Chinese Peking Design rug.  Age for this particular piece is probably somewhere in the vicinity of 30 years or newer.  The Peking design was popular pre-nichols art deco rugs (1920's+), just around 1900-1915.  These designs are a carry over from elements found in older antique Chinese rugs.  The meaning behind design elements may be traced back many more centuries.  This rug is what some may consider a "revival" weaving of these older, Peking genre rugs.  It is all hand knotted.

The rug has a lot of charm.  The gold fringe is a nice touch, as are the selvage wraps finishing each edge. The colors used appear very rich and lively without being garish, which is good to see.  Overall the rug seems to be in very good condition as mentioned. 

General design is called a covered field Medallion design.  The design elements in the ivory field have symbolic meaning in Buddist and Taoist religions which can be traced back very far in history.  For example, the vases at either end of the field are said to symbolize peace.  Other designs may reinforce purity, protection, power, etc.  Working from the first border touching the field:  This narrow border with white dots is sometimes called a "Pearl Border."  One border out, the designs that look like a continuous line of capital "T's" is called a "Running" border or "Key" border.  Many elements used in this rug are not isolated to rugs alone, but other forms of antique art as well.

If you have additional questions, feel free to post at the bottom of this entry.

Thanks for sharing!

-Rug Rag

We look forward to talking with anyone who may have questions on or about oriental rugs.  We are an Independent Reviewer, and will give you our opinion for any rug, new or old.  Should you have any questions you would like to submit for a blog entry response, please do so, and be sure to include photographs of your rug.  For more information, please take a look at the bottom of this page, or feel free to Contact Us at Info@RugRag.com

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For all those interested in submitting a question to the Rug Rag Editors:  We'd be more than happy to help, please send some photographs of the reverse side of the rug very close up with a quarter placed on the knots, plus a picture of the fringe, the whole face of the rug and detail shot of the pile.  If the rug is worn, please include photographs of worn areas.  For rugs of any age, please be sure to check for dry areas, moth damage, odor, and whether or not the rug is straight/has right angles where called for.  If you have any questions about our assessment request feel free to send us an email.  Otherwise, we are looking for something similar to these images posted here. 

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