The Most Beautiful Ancient Chinese Rugs Return to the Market—A Special Report from Christie's
This 400-year-old Ming Dynasty antique carpet once served as an imperial carpet in the Forbidden City. Historical records indicate its original dimensions were 10 meters square, and it is acclaimed by the international carpet community as one of the most beautiful Chinese carpets. When one walks upon it, each step falls precisely upon a lotus petal, creating the illusion of lotus blossoms emerging with every stride.
Christie's New York “Masterpieces Sale”
“The Exceptinal Sale”
Oct.14, 2020
For Christie's advisory team, this rare Ming Dynasty antique carpet will rank among the finest lots ever offered at auction.
Late Ming royal carpet, early 17th C.
32 ft 5 in x 23 ft 5 in / 988.1 x 713.7 cm
Estimated：$800,000-1,200,000
Oct.14 New York Christies'"Masterpiece Sale"
In China, the time-honored craft of woolen carpet weaving reached its zenith during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1619). Carpets from this era featured distinctive characteristics: long pile loops, substantial thickness, and warp threads made from twisted silk. In contrast, Ningxia carpets woven during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty were thinner with a softer pile.
This late Ming antique carpet is classified by international experts as a “transitional period” carpet in China—bridging the Ming Wanli era to the Qing Kangxi era. As the largest extant Ming carpet overseas, it is known in the carpet world as the “Tiffany Palace Carpet” due to its 40-year provenance in the Tiffany Collection in the United States. Its warp threads are cotton yarn, suggesting it was likely commissioned by the imperial court or nobility from a local workshop in the early 17th century.
Its design likely originated from court painters. The intricate, delicate patterns feature seemingly identical lotus flowers, each with subtle variations. The soft, harmonious color palette and unique “soft weave” technique create fluid curves, resulting in an exquisitely elegant carpet surface. Mastering these advanced techniques demanded artisans devote significantly more time to perfecting their craft.
The arrangement of the 300 lotus flowers in varying hues across the entire carpet follows a specific rule, which we will “decode” for you in future posts.
Weaving a carpet of this size required a loom beam exceeding 10 meters in width—the construction of the weaving equipment itself was a formidable engineering challenge. The weaving process requires at least five to eight weavers working side by side, simultaneously passing the weft threads. The rhythmic clatter of the beaters driving in the weft resembles a percussive symphony. Roughly estimated, weaving this carpet takes about one year. Considering the entire production cycle—spinning, pattern drafting, dyeing, and finishing—the total production time ranges from one and a half to two years.
Parker, a consultant at Christie's Carpet Department, remarked, “This carpet is relatively thick and remains in near-original condition. This attests to its exceptional quality and extraordinary weaving craftsmanship.”
The carpet's design is highly distinctive—neatly arranged multicolored lotus flowers, with a square medallion pattern at the center featuring inward-curving corners. Its inner border consists of an eight-petaled floral lattice pattern filled with swastikas, while the outer border is composed of swastika scrollwork. The classical symmetrical pattern is exquisitely crafted.
Unlike early Ming-style carpets, this piece features a refined and balanced composition that evokes a sense of tranquility and boundless serenity," Parker continued.
Laurelton Hall, Long Island, California
Art Nouveau Residence by Louis Comfort Tiffany
In 1916, Tiffany purchased this carpet for $8,000 to adorn his 84-room Art Nouveau mansion, Laurelton Hall, on Long Island. The carpet was laid in the second-floor gallery.
How this carpet made its way to America in the early 20th century is another fascinating story, which we will recount in a future article.
Louis Comfort Tiffany
（1848–1933）American artist
renowned for creating decorative glass
Tiffany's collection blends furniture and artworks from China, Japan, and the Middle East, along with a refreshing array of Chinese carpets. She had this carpet cut to fit the dimensions of her gallery, repurposing the trimmed strips as a hallway runner for the entrance.
1946 Parke-Bernet Gallery
Tiffany Foundation Special Exhibition Sale
On the floor lies this ancient Ming carpet
In 1946, thirteen years after Tiffany's death, the Tiffany Foundation sold this carpet along with seven cut-off fragments at a major auction. The buyer was renowned collector of classical Chinese carpets Frank Michaelian. During the forty years he used the carpet, it was cut again to fit the dimensions of his room—hopefully for the last time.
In 1985, the carpet passed to London's Textile Gallery. By 1990, it was acquired by American media mogul A. Jerrold Perenchio (1930–2017), a museum-quality collector of Impressionist, modern, and decorative art, and one of Los Angeles' most prominent philanthropists.
On October 14th, after 70 years in seclusion, the Tiffany Palace carpet will emerge at Christie's New York. The reappearance of this iconic piece is thrilling, and it is anticipated to draw global attention and interest from collectors across disciplines.
In this tumultuous autumn of 2020, as the pandemic continues to rage globally, the grand unveiling of this exquisite ancient Chinese carpet carries profound significance. The resurgence of classical Chinese art and traditional culture is unstoppable—authenticity and beauty will inevitably become the defining themes of our era.
Banshan Dyeing and Weaving Studio
Also known as Caravan Classics, we began re-creatng ancient Chinese rugs using traditional techniques in 1999. All carpets are hand-knotted and woven, dyed with natural dyestuff. Our re-creations have been exhibited at the National Museum of China and the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture in California, USA. We also apply natural dyeing to apparel and home accessories, and custom-design artistic draperies and theatrical costumes for domestic and international performance organizations. In education and training, we have collaborated with Montessori, Taiwan Daohe, Pei De Academy, Qixing, and other institutions.
For more information, follow our official account “Banshan Dyeing & Weaving” or visit our website.
www.caravanclassics.com.cn
Where tradition reincarnate
