Ningxia Carpet with Scrolling Lotus Flowers
This early Ningxia carpet with scrolling lotus flowers is one of the most elegant weavings from the East. Weavers produced the best and rarest examples during the Kangxi period, marking the beginning of the Qing dynasty when carpets began to achieve a status comparable to other decorative art forms. Many patterns from this period derive from the Ming dynasty, which took inspiration from ancient bronze and ceramic designs.
In this refined example, blue lotus blossoms, symbols of purity, connect by leafy tendrils and cover the characteristic honey-yellow field. The austere geometry of the Greek fret border complements the elegant drawing of this carpet. The somewhat archaic rendering of the lotus flower and the spaciousness of the surrounding foliage are typical of Kangxi carpets, as is the inner border decorated with the ‘octagon-rosette’ motif. The corroded brown outer frame is a distinguishing feature of older Ningxia carpets.