77556 Distressed Antique Chinese Baotou Pictorial Rug with Landscape Design 09'02 x 11'04. This hand-knotted wool distressed antique Chinese Baotou Pictorial rug features a striking landscape scene overlaid upon an abrashed ink blue field. With its cold, arid climate ideal for raising sheep, Baotou, a city in the Inner Mongolia region of China, was a major weaving center known for producing high-quality wool. The city was also important due to its location along the trade routes between two other major weaving centers: Ningxia and Beijing. In the second half of the 19th century, a mural painter of temple walls introduced pictorial representations into carpet making in Baotou. Employing the use of perspective and shading to create realistic images and scenes, these landscape rugs were indeed very painterly. This particular antique Chinese Baotou rug is no exception. The scene depicted in this piece is West Lake at Hangzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Featuring a number of scenic causeways, islands, temples and pagodas framed by mountains on three sides, the beloved lake has inspired countless poets and artists over the centuries with its beauty and tranquility. The iconic site has also been widely influential in landscape design. This antique Chinese Baotou rug exquisitely captures the West Lake and its serene setting. Camel back bridges connect a number of small islands while small boats float along the water. Large parasol trees shade a number of buildings, including a pagoda in the center of the composition. A range of mountains can be seen in the background. The overall scene is framed by a simple, but graceful, peony border. The restrained color palette, comprised of mostly shades of blues and creams, gives the piece an added sense of tranquility. The rich hues were once more vibrant, but have faded over time; the piece now resembles an ancient watercolor painted upon a sepia-toned parchment. With its artistry, depth of meaning, and harmonious composition, this distressed antique Chinese Baotou rug is a showstopper and would be a fantastic addition to any interior. Rendered in variegated shades of ink blue, navy blue, royal blue, cobalt, indigo, cerulean, sky blue, cream, beige, ecru, khaki, tan, flax, almond, camel, vanilla, ivory, and gray with salmon accents. It would be perfect for a living room, bedroom, dining room, den, family room, great room, study, studio, library, loft, formal sitting room, wine cellar, executive suite, conservatory, hotel lobby, music room, drawing room, billiards room, clubhouse, large home office, master retreat, entertainment parlor, theatre room, music room, or lounge area. Iconic in its styling, it is well-suited for a wide range of interior styles, including Traditional, Transitional, Eclectic, Modern, Neoclassical, Georgian, Regency, Empire, Victorian, Arts & Crafts, Craftsman, Aesthetic Movement, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Jazz Age, Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, Mid-Century Modern, English Country, French Provincial, Bohemian, Boho Chic, Chinoiserie, Asian Antique, Asian Modern, Japanese, Ming, Qing and Republic Period. Abrash. Hand-knotted wool. Made in China (Inner Mongolia). Bao Tou. Pao Tou. Measures: 09’02 x 11’04.
