Recommended Reading - Chinese Rugs

'Chinese Rugs - A Buyer's Guide' by Lee Allane is a great introduction to the world of Chinese carpets. It begins with a concise history lesson of China, its trade and language, then explains how the rugs are made, with a thorough glossary.

The author gives guidelines for selecting and buying the carpets and also some tips on the care of carpets before delving into the meaning and designs woven into the carpets.

This is a great book for beginning enthusiasts.

Chinese Rugs: A Buyer's Guide

Carpet - Cat and Peony

This pictorial rug features a cat and a butterfly surrounded by a pine tree and peony flowers with a stream in the foreground.

There is a Chinese superstition that cats are protectors of silkworms; possibly this is because rats destroy silkworms, but cats keep rats away. Cats are also thought to dispel evil spirits due to their good eyesight in the dark.

The butterfly symbolizes joy, the summer, as well as conjugal happiness.

The evergreen pine tree is a symbol of longevity. From its ability to survive the cold winter, it is also a symbol of steadfastness.

The peony flower represents love and affection; it is also an emblem of feminine beauty and the spring.

Baotou, 80 years, 1.57m x 0.87m

RM 6,800

Carpet - Two Cranes

This pictorial rug in different shades of brown depicts a pair of cranes, one holding a lingzhi in its beak, with a pine tree in the background.

Of the many symbols of longevity, the crane is one of the most common. It is often depicted with a pine tree, another common symbol of longevity.

The lingzhi is another symbol of longevity, here it is in the shape of a ruyi, which further symbolizes the realization of your heart’s desires.

This rug was found being used as a wrapping for stones in a wheelbarrow, to prevent the stones from knocking into each other while being transported.

Hebei, 150 years, 1.40m x 0.77m

RM 1,800

Carpet - Five Snow Lions

This pink rug is depicted with a large purple snow lion in the centre,
with smaller lions at each corner. Only the top and bottom edges have
a loosely defined border of a central stylized flower with attached
streamers.
Snow lions are often depicted, as here, in a harmonious pairing of
male and female. When symmetrically depicted, the male is on the left
and the female on the right.
At the top border, the flower is stylized as an endless knot. The
endless knot symbolizes a long life that is not hindered by any
obstacles.
The flower in the bottom border is a stylized chrysanthemum. This
flower symbolizes mid-autumn.
Hebei, 180 years, 1.44m x 0.74m
RM 8,800

Carpet - Two Snow Lions

This rug features two snow lions around a central medallion, set within an intricate geometric border.

The snow lions here are depicted playing with a ball. According to Chinese legend, female snow lions produce milk from their paws, and leaving hollow balls for the snow lions to play with would consequently allow the milk to be collected within the balls. The balls are often depicted with silk streamers attached.

In the four corners of the brown field are scrolled leaves and flowers in the stylized form of a bat, pianfu, which is a symbol of prosperity.

The border design is composed of stylized half-flowers, squares and lines and swastikas, with 6 large stylized flowers interspersed along the border. The Buddhist swastika is a symbol of longevity and infinity.

Tibet, 100 years, 1.20m x 0.67m

RM 2,400

Carpet - Phoenix on a wutong tree

This deep blue rug depicts a resplendent phoenix set before a wutong tree and a Peony flower, in a pictorial design.

The Chinese phoenix or fenghuang is a symbol of high virtue and grace, appearing only when reason prevails in the country, hiding itself at other times; two are never seen at once. It is a benevolent creature that feeds only on bamboo seeds and quenches its thirst only at the sweet fountains.

The wutong tree is famous in legend for being the only species of tree on which the phoenix will alight. It is considered a symbol of the female element, the opposite of the bamboo, which symbolizes the male element. A reason for this distinction may be that the wutong forms knots inwardly while knots on the bamboo grow on the outside: 'inward' is a female characteristic, 'outward' is male.

The peony or mudanhua is known as the 'Queen of Flowers' and it symbolizes wealth and distinction, as well as love, affection and feminine beauty. The peony is also one of the four flowers representing the four seasons; it is the symbol of spring.

Suiyuan, 120 years, 1.48m x 0.84m

RM 2,800