1920s Wool Chinese – Peking Antique Rectangle Room Size Knotted Ivory Rug, Circa Date: 1920s. This exceptional piece represents the height of early 20th-century Chinese weaving, characterized by the elegant, open designs favored by the Peking workshops. It is a superb addition to our collection of antique rugs, showcasing the transition from traditional Chinese motifs to the more minimalist aesthetic of the Art Deco era.
The expansive field is rendered in a soft, luminous ivory color, providing a sophisticated backdrop for the scattered, stylized floral and butterfly motifs. The sparse arrangement highlights the quality of the wool and the precision of the knotting, lending the piece a distinctly modern sensibility despite its age. A delicate central cartouche, featuring subtle landscape elements, anchors the composition without overwhelming the open space.
A striking contrast is achieved through the use of a deep cobalt blue inner guard border, which frames the central panel and separates it from the outer salmon-pink main border. Given its generous dimensions, this piece functions perfectly as a true room size floor covering, anchoring a grand living space or formal dining area with understated elegance.
The borders themselves are richly detailed, featuring traditional Chinese symbols, vases, and continuous sprays of stylized blossoms against the vibrant salmon ground. This restrained use of floral rugs patterns, combined with the bold color blocking and expansive field, makes this Peking rug a timeless example of decorative Art Deco influence adapted for the Western market.
