9 x 11 Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug 77631

77631 Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug, 08'10 x 11'06.

A radiant relic of cultural storytelling and visual poetry, this hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Art Deco rug captures the splendor of an era when East met West in vibrant harmony. Saturated in a rich burgundy red field evocative of imperial silk robes, the composition is animated by a symphony of motifs, each steeped in symbolism and layered meaning. Lush sprays of peonies, chrysanthemums, lotuses, and plum blossoms unfurl with untamed grace, dancing between field and border with a sense of vitality that defies confinement. These Four Season flowers form a botanical allegory of the passing of time and the eternal return—each bloom a marker of its season and a bearer of ancient wisdom. Together, they compose a visual calendar of life’s cyclical beauty: spring’s honor and wealth, summer’s purity, autumn’s longevity, and winter’s fortitude.

In the left corner, a delicate pagoda rises beside a rocky outcrop, its spire crowned by a serene bird, standing as a sentinel of peaceful retreat. Below, a bridge arches over gentle waters where two ducks swim in quiet unison, symbols of marital fidelity and enduring companionship in Chinese lore. Across the center of the field, seven birds—perhaps geese—fly in a graceful V-formation, further echoing themes of partnership and harmony in the natural order. Each fluttering butterfly is not merely an accent but a joyful omen, representing happiness, transformation, and fleeting beauty. These avian and floral elements together form a serene tableau, capturing the Taoist ideal of balance between earth, sky, and the soul’s journey in between.

On the right side, a flowering cloisonne vase emerges as an emblem of tranquility and cultivated refinement. Gracefully rendered with blossoms spilling forth, the vase signifies containment of peace, the balance of the five elements, and the promise of serenity in a well-ordered world. From the upper right, a bold golden lattice pattern unfurls like brocade, a decorative homage to traditional fretwork. This stylized design suggests both imperial opulence and deeper philosophical meanings—interlocking paths, the infinity of heaven’s favor, and the ceaseless rhythm of fortune’s wheel. The winding leiwen or thunder pattern, seen in the lower left inner guard border, blends the wan symbol (meaning ten thousand) with a never-ending key motif, representing longevity and eternal joy.

The navy blue border frames the scene like a twilight sky dotted with symbolic stars. Vases, ruyi clouds, shou medallions, and auspicious emblems like the endless knot and scrolls are artfully arranged along the periphery. Each object is placed with purpose: the ruyi cloud granting wishes, the lotus leaf echoing purity, and the bridge offering passage to wisdom and transcendence. This border acts not as a boundary but a cosmological map, charting the journey of the soul through cultivated beauty, peaceful surroundings, and joyful living. The artistic layering of inner guard, primary field, and outer margin transforms the rug into a spiritual landscape—a sanctuary underfoot.

As a whole, this antique Chinese Art Deco rug is not merely a product of its Jazz Age pedigree or Nichols-era craftsmanship—it is a woven epic, marrying the philosophical depth of Chinese iconography with the daring design language of Art Deco modernity. It evokes a time when design was both deeply personal and universally poetic, when every motif held a wish and every color a dream. This woven wonder brings not only warmth and splendor to a space but also a quiet invitation to pause, reflect, and delight in the harmonious interweaving of tradition and imagination.

• Rendered in variegated shades of red, navy blue, tan, celadon, royal blue, brown, gold, purple, persimmon, gray, ink blue, and cornflower blue with other accent colors.
• Abrash.
• Hand-knotted wool.
• Made in China.
• Measures: 08'10 x 11'06.
• Date: 1920's. Early 20th Century.