Early Ningxia Rug with Blossom Palmettes
Rare Early Ningxia Rug with Blossom Palmettes
This rare early Ningxia rug features a coral rose background adorned with a directional pattern of large blue lotus flowers, symbols of purity, connected by thin leafy vines. The blue border is decorated with ivory and rose lotus flowers, while the inner guard stripe includes an ivory Greek fret motif known as the ‘thunder line,’ a Chinese ideogram found on ancient Shang dynasty ritual bronzes.
The rug’s ample spacing and refined design recall the decoration of Ming period ceramics. Notably, the weaver skillfully positioned the pattern within the square format, giving the rug a serene sense of balance—typical of early Ningxia rugs. The delicate floral style and softer color palette reflect the characteristics of weavings from the Qianlong period.