NORTH CHINA, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A NINGXIA CARPET
NORTH CHINA, LATE 18TH CENTURY
The burnt orange field with seven rows of lion-dogs alternating with floral roundels, in a sandy yellow border of flowering vine with lion-dog motifs between inner indigo seed-pearl and cloud-pattern and outer plain indigo stripes, areas of wear, selvages replaced, scattered repiling throughout, outer stripe rewoven at one end
11ft.6in. x 6ft.10in. (350cm. x 207cm.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Some Chinese carpets with 'lion-dog' designs can be attributed as early as the early seventeenth century. The early examples are clearly drawn and display the fierce and protective nature of these stylised beasts. In Chinese art the lion represents important qualities such as power, authority and guardians against evil. This animal later developed features of the Pekinese dog. Popular as pets in palaces, they were deliberately bred to reproduce the imaginative characteristics of the semi-mythological lion. (Konig,H; Franses,M; Lie The, H; Dickinsen, G.: Lion-dogs, Hundred Antiques, Classical Chinese Carpets I, London, 2000, pp.19-23).

More from Oriental Rugs and Carpets

View All