NORTH CHINA, LATE 19TH CENTURY

Carpet weaving in China in the 19th century was prolific and centres of excellence emerged throughout the country including regions such as Ningxia and individual cities such as Kansu. The weavers however were constantly moving between these centres, carrying the traditional techniques and vocabulary further afield which is why many carpets produced relate to more than one weaving centre. A carpet of much larger proportions but with the same silk and metal-thread techniques and stylistic vocabulary was sold in these Rooms on 22 April, 1999, lot 146. Whilst it does not bear any inscription it is suggested that that carpet could have been made for a palace of a high Chinese dignitary. Both the present lot and that lot bear the same silk fret-work inner stripe and although the central field design is different, the similarities are obvious. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London houses another similar carpet to the present lot which is discussed by M.Franses and R.Pinner, 'The Chinese Carpet Collection', Hali, Vol.5, No.2, with an almost identical example to that, again possibly woven for one of the Imperial Palaces in Peking, being sold in these Rooms, 29 April, 2004, lot 78. The present lot is smaller in size than many and may possibly have been woven as a companion piece.