Antique Ningxia Rug with Blue Lotus Flowers
This rare antique Ningxia rug features a blush pink background decorated by a directional pattern of large blue lotus flowers, symbols of long life, connected by a thin leafy vinery. The blue border is adorned with ivory and rose peonies, and the inner guard stripe includes an ivory Greek fret motif known as a ‘thunder line’, which is a Chinese ideogram found on certain ritual bronzes from the ancient Shang dynasty. The ample spacing and refined rendering of the design reminds us of the decor of Ming period ceramics. It should be noted how the weaver succeeded in gauging the pattern so as to place it entirely within the boundaries of the square format, imbuing the rug with a serene sense of balance – a characteristic the earliest Ningxia rugs. The delicate floral style of this example, together with the choice of a softer palette, is typical of weavings from the Qianlong period.