3 x 5 Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug 70718

70718 Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug, 03'00 x 04'10.

Emanating the quiet elegance of a bygone era, this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Art Deco rug unfolds like a page from a poetic scroll. Its warm golden-tan field, softened by time, radiates serenity and restraint—an expanse of silence framed by a chorus of stylized blooms and curling vinery. The open center invites contemplation, much like a still pond that reflects the sky, allowing its gentle presence to breathe tranquility into any space.

The surrounding border, richly adorned in terra-cotta tones, is animated by a garden of simplified blossoms—plum, chrysanthemum, and peony—each delicately rendered in celadon, cobalt, and golden ochre. These florals are more than decorative; they are whispers of traditional Chinese symbolism. The plum blossom speaks of resilience in hardship; the chrysanthemum of longevity and contentment; and the peony, long regarded as the “king of flowers,” evokes prosperity, honor, and feminine beauty.

At either end of this Chinese rug, a stylized vase rests in a medallion-like cartouche, offering a gesture of eternal harmony and cultivated grace. These urns, symmetrically placed, are visual anchors that ground the composition, emblematic of peace and balance within the home. Encasing this ornate frame is a deep midnight border—bold, grounding, and eternal—recalling the weight of ink on silk, the firm stroke of a master calligrapher.

This Early 20th Century Chinese rug is a treasure of Art Deco elegance interwoven with Eastern philosophy, most certainly inspired by the workshop of Walter Nichols. A rare harmony of subtle minimalism and symbolic opulence, it stands as a textile testament to the Jazz Age's fascination with the Orient—a relic not only of beauty, but of time, culture, and the enduring power of poetic form made tangible in wool.

• Abrash.
• Hand knotted wool.
• Made in China.
• Measures: 03'00 x 04'10.
• Date: 1920's. Early 20th Century.