NORTH CHINA, MID 19TH CENTURY

Details

A SILK NINGXIA RUG
NORTH CHINA, MID 19TH CENTURY
Of 'Bat and Shou' design, full silk pile, woven on orange silk warps, overall very good condition
6ft.7in. x 4ft.7in. (205cm. x 146cm.)

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The overall repeat design of this silk Ningxia rug is formed of an arrangement of four, inward facing bats, enclosing the Chinese 'Shou' symbol. This archaic combination is a powerful Chinese auspicious rebus representing "happiness and longevity" (fushou), which can be seen on a wool Ningxia rug, circa 1800, of a similar design on an ivory ground in the MATAM collection (Moshe Tabibnia, Intrecci Cinesi, Milan, 2011, pp154-5, pl.26).

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