Late 19th Century Chinese Peking Carpet

Late 19th Century Chinese Peking Carpet ( 15’3” x 17’4” – 465 x 528 cm)
he commercial Peking carpet is a later 19th century development, begun by importing weaves from Ningshia (see entry) to create and export industry aimed at Western markets. The foundation is cotton and the pile is a good quality carpet wool which takes dyes particularly well. The neat medium weave is in Persian (asymmetric) knots. Designs are strictly Chinese and the whole motif repertoire of Chinese art is employed. Blue and white is the most popular color combination and red is particularly rare. Sizes tend to 9’ x 12’ and larger, and few small pieces appear. For a short time in the early 1920’s Persian designs were woven to capitalize on the death of new Iranian goods. The industry decimated by the Communist Revolution relocated to the Pearl River area. There is a good supply of antique carpets at reasonable prices.