Vintage Chinese Pictorial Rug, 09'11 X 07'11

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79454 Vintage Chinese Pictorial Rug, 09'11 x 07'11.

The Imperial Phoenix Garden: A Vintage Chinese Pictorial Masterpiece of Auspice

This … Read more 79454 Vintage Chinese Pictorial Rug, 09'11 x 07'11.

The Imperial Phoenix Garden: A Vintage Chinese Pictorial Masterpiece of Auspice

This hand knotted wool vintage Chinese pictorial rug is a ceremonial vision drawn from the refined visual language of classical Chinese court art. Set against a commanding vermilion ground, the composition unfolds like a painted silk scroll—layered, symbolic, and richly narrative. Every element is intentional, from the poised central phoenix to the surrounding birds in animated flight, creating a scene that feels both timeless and quietly powerful. This is not merely a rug, but a statement of cultivated taste and cultural literacy.

At the heart of the exceptional composition stands the fenghuang, the Chinese phoenix—an emblem reserved historically for imperial virtue, harmony, and prosperity. Its elegant posture and flowing plumage signal moral authority and peace, while the surrounding cranes evoke longevity, wisdom, and spiritual transcendence. Together, they form a visual hierarchy once associated with elite households and scholarly circles, where symbolism carried as much weight as beauty.

Encircling this central axis, magpies, swallows, pheasants, and songbirds animate the scene with rhythm and movement. In Chinese symbolism, these iconic birds speak of joy, good fortune, refinement, and the promise of renewal. Their placement among flowering branches and rocky landscapes reinforces a worldview rooted in balance—between earth and sky, stillness and motion, power and grace. The palette of soft ivory, deep blues, and warm golds against red lends the piece an unmistakable sense of ceremonial richness.

What sets this extraordinary masterpiece apart is its pictorial sophistication—a genre produced in limited numbers and favored by collectors who value narrative depth over pattern repetition. Woven entirely by hand in wool, it embodies both technical mastery and cultural reverence. Displayed in a grand interior, it commands attention not through excess, but through meaning—offering its owner a rare opportunity to live with an exquisite work of art that speaks fluently in the language of prestige, history, and symbolic elegance.

Abrash.
Hand knotted wool.
Made in China.
Measures: 09'11 x 07'11.
Date: 1950's. Mid-20th Century. See less