Antique Chinese Allover Floral Knotted Rug, Country of Origin: China, Circa Date: 1920s. This exceptional piece exemplifies the artistry of early 20th-century Chinese rugs, featuring a dramatic pictorial composition rather than traditional medallion structures. The deep, saturated field provides a stunning backdrop for the detailed iconography.
The field is rendered in a rich, almost midnight blue color rugs, a shade highly prized in the Peking weaving tradition. This intense hue allows the gold and khaki motifs—depicting stylized scholar’s rocks, soaring birds, and flowering branches—to achieve maximum visual impact through stark, elegant contrast.
While the title suggests an allover pattern, this specific example utilizes the allover rugs structure to create a continuous, flowing narrative across the surface. Mythological birds, possibly phoenixes, are depicted amidst stylized clouds and bamboo shoots, symbols of longevity and good fortune, rendered with exquisite detail in contrasting wools.
Woven with a dense pile indicative of high-quality early Republican era production, this piece remains a superb example of antique rugs from the period. Its compact dimensions allow it to function perfectly as a decorative accent or small scatter size rug in a sophisticated interior setting.