Antique Chinese – Ningxia Chinese Allover Medallion Knotted Rug, Country of Origin: China, Circa Date: 1750s. This exceptional piece represents the height of 18th-century weaving, a rare surviving example among antique rugs. Its remarkable preservation and sophisticated design confirm its status as a highly collectible textile from the Qianlong period.
The central field is dominated by a warm, luminous salmon hue—a sophisticated variation within the earth tone color rugs spectrum. This ground color provides a striking contrast to the repeating circular medallions and scattered auspicious symbols rendered in pale yellow, ivory, and deep indigo. The construction and characteristic palette are indicative of ningxia rugs produced for the Northern Chinese aristocracy.
The composition is framed by a series of meticulously rendered borders. The main guard border features an intricate, dark indigo Greek key fret, a classic motif in Chinese rugs, juxtaposed against a secondary border displaying stylized peony and floral scrolls. The overall design achieves a formal balance while retaining the whimsical, symbolic elements favored in Imperial court textiles.
Measuring approximately 100 x 410 cm, the elongated format of this textile classifies it among the most desirable hallway runner rugs. Its narrow proportions and robust structure make it perfectly suited for defining a long corridor or providing a focal point in a refined, traditional interior setting, offering a tangible link to the Qing Dynasty’s artistic legacy.