Chinese carpet

Chinese Peking or Tientsin carpet
from eastern China
circa 1900
Size: 532 x 363 cm

Rugs featuring Buddhist symbols, realistically drawn cranes, fo-dogs, horses, deer and other symbols of longevity, prosperity, fertility etc. were produced in Kansu and Suiyan provinces in the late 19th and early 20th century. Another production centre was Tientsin near Peking where essentially large carpets were produced in traditional designs. Traditionally these very desirable decorative carpets featured just two or three colours – mainly blue and ivory.