TARIM BASIN, EAST TURKESTAN, LATE 18TH CENTURY

The drawing and colouring of all three 'RKO' sea-wave patterned end panels in the present sale, are quiet different from one another with the present example being the most structured and architectural. The depiction of the sea was frequently used in the Imperial decoration of Chinese robes, particularly during the Qianlong reign (1736-1795), where strict sartorial rules had been outlined. Jifu robes were rich in symbolic meaning often representing the entire universe in their designs, most with the lishui wave-pattern anchored by a central mountain, along the skirt line. An impressive 18th century Imperial yellow satin brocade chuba (robe), with a closely related lishui border to the present rug, sold in Christie's, New York, 17-18 March, 2016, lot 1382. The flattened, stepped forms of the waves on the present rug are most similar to those on a rug published in J. Eskenazi, L'Arte del Tappetto Orientale, Milan, 1983, pl. 308, p. 417, as well as an example that sold in the Bergi Andonian and Joseph W. Fell Collection, Sotheby's, New York, 19 May 2011, lot 132.