Antique East Turkestan Khotan Wool Rug, by Rug & Kilim, 1870-1879

Details

Description

Hand-knotted in wool and originating circa 1870-1879, this 6x10 antique Khotan rug features two geometric medallions on a deep indigo … Read more Hand-knotted in wool and originating circa 1870-1879, this 6x10 antique Khotan rug features two geometric medallions on a deep indigo field framed by finely detailed borders. Soft terracotta, ivory, and camel tones lend balance to its classic design.
On the Design:
Positioned along the legendary Silk Road in East Turkestan, the oasis city of Khotan served as an extraordinary cultural crossroad where artistic traditions converged. Nineteenth-century Khotan rugs are revered in textile history for this sophisticated synthesis, combining Chinese Buddhist and Taoist symbolism with Persian spatial geometry and Turkic structural boldness. This pre-industrial masterpiece represents the pinnacle of Khotan weaving—created not merely as a functional floor covering, but as a high-status prestige carpet for regional nobility and international trade. Woven from hand-spun local wool saturated with unadulterated natural dyes, the rug utilizes a rich, deep indigo field that evokes the infinite night sky, offering a majestic backdrop for sacred iconography.
The layout is anchored along the vertical axis by two monumental oval medallions in warm, aged terracotta. The upper medallion features stepped geometric fretwork derived from ancient shou and swastika symbols representing longevity and cosmic harmony, while the lower medallion encloses a central star-like floret encircled by a ring of stylized floral rosettes. Populating the surrounding indigo field are orderly rows of flowering pomegranate shrubs or anar—a quintessential East Turkestan motif symbolizing fertility, prosperity, and abundance. Angular corner spandrels with stepped key-fret framing give architectural definition to the field, leading the eye into a complex, multi-tiered border system. This frame features an inner Greek-key fretwork band, a floret-strewn middle border, diagonal barbershop striping, and an outer cloud-head (yunwen) margin that represents the celestial realm. Balancing sacred geometry with organic warmth, this museum-grade Khotan stands as a monumental document of Silk Road textile art.

Condition:

This antique Khotan rug enjoys good condition for its age and origin. See less