Uniqueness of Chinese Rugs
Stunning antique and modern hand-woven Chinese rugs feature colors and designs that fit every taste and interior design trend
Choosing one among the myriad of oriental carpets can be astounding. The world of oriental rugs is filled with colors and designs, which reflect a palmy past and a rich culture of folklore and stories, that ignite curiosity, visual thrill, and glee. Hence, only one of them will never be enough for a house. If you know what you are looking for, it will be easier to find one rug for your taste only. If you want something simple but at the same moment nonpareil, then you will have to choose a Chinese rug because they are distinct from all the others.
Almost all hand knotted carpets produced in the near, middle and far east are associated with ancient civilizations and cultures and sometimes they share common elements of design and weaving. Cultural elements of different tribes and the introduction of western European influences have affected carpet weaving techniques during centuries. In the meantime, Chinese carpets are quite different as the western culture made its intrusion in the country only during the 19th century.
Thus, the Chinese culture remained sheltered for a long time and weavers preserved the unique Chinese look and style in their carpets.
The history of these rugs is divided into two periods. The first includes all carpets weaved based on traditional techniques and motifs. Meanwhile, the second period includes what has been considered as the blooming of Chinese art deco carpets. The rugs that belong to the traditional period contain a combination of characteristic designs and related to local culture elements.
Compared to Persian or other types of oriental rugs, those weaved in China were used only for internal purposes. Traditional carpets in china were simple, symmetrical, and cream, tan, blue and gold colors were used. They often feature images of dragons, flowers, plants, birds and clouds. These rugs preserved their unique look until the 19th century when western influences introduced new colors and new art movements.
This marked the beginning of the art deco period in the production of Chinese rugs. When industrialization transformed culture art deco emerged. Japanese art influenced French artists, thus creating the French art deco which was adopted by the Chinese during the 1920s. Art deco rugs include flexible designs that make them fit in every room no matter the architecture or interior design. Even though the production of these rugs started in 1910, their trade flourished during the 1920s and 1930s. The colors used for these rugs are dynamic and lively and tend to create contrast through pastel tones. Europeans introduced chemical dyes and Tientsin turned into the main center for the production of art deco rugs.
There’s a saying in China that goes: ”Whoever loves and understands a garden will find contentment within.” Just like this, whoever that owns a Chinese carpet, which like Chinese gardens miniaturizes larger natural landscapes, will find contentment on its laid back designs. It feels like having a garden in your living room.
