Antique Art Deco Chinese Rug with Abstract Design
Geometric patterns typical of the Art Deco period decorate only a minimal group of carpets woven during the 1930s on Tianjin city looms in northern China. The majority of Tianjin rugs from this period feature floral patterns in solid and contrasting colors arranged around an open field. Artists like Betty Joel designed some of the rare geometric pieces, commissioning American companies based in China, such as Nichols & Co., to weave them. Collectors now highly appreciate these sturdy, hardwearing carpets for their abstract compositions, which fit exceptionally well in 20th-century design interiors.
This superb example, in excellent condition, showcases a field pattern comprising rays of contrasting shades running across opposite corners, connecting quarter-circle motifs. Sonia Delaunay first introduced this style in her rug designs. It features abstract motifs suggestive of lunar landscapes or irregular shapes, with surfaces conveying a marbled and spotted effect. Robert Delaunay’s theory of ‘Simultaneism’ clearly influenced this style.