Page 156 - important chinese art mar 22 2018

597

A RARE LARGE IMPERIAL YELLOW-
GROUND CUT VELVET AND
METALLIC-WRAPPED THREAD KANG
CARPET
QING DYNASTY, YONGZHENG
PERIOD
consisting of three joined panels of cut and uncut
silk velvet, the center decorated with a lattice
medallion enclosing a pink ! oret, surrounded by four
large pink peony blossoms and feathery leafy scrolls
in pale green and blue, with blue archaistic kuilong
in the corners, all enclosed within an angular scroll
border, further surrounded by a band of meandering
lotus scrolls and pairs of confronting dragons, the
back with lining
141¾ in. by 74½ in., 361 by 189 cm
Lavish carpets of this type were made to adorn
imperial residences, often to cover grand furniture
such as the kang, a platform that was heated by
braziers with other furniture placed on top. The
use of the carpet could be adapted according to
the weather, such as placing additional layers
underneath for added insulation. The colors and
emblems associated with the imperial family were
carefully selected, seen on the present piece in the
yellow ground, the color of the emperors, along with
the dragon borders and Buddhist motifs.
Silk pile cut-velvet appears to have been utilised
in China from as early as the sixteenth century
with this foliate design developed in the early Qing
dynasty (1664-1911) and produced throughout the
reign. According to Feng Zhao in Treasures in Silk,
Hangzhou, 1999, p. 336, velvet is a warp-pile weave
that can be divided into several categories, and is
considered to be one of the high achievements of
the weaver’s art. The present carpet is constructed
of three silk-velvet panels that have been joined
together. It incorporates both cut and uncut
techniques, whereby the pile loops are cut to form
the velvet pattern or remain untouched respectively.
Closely related kang carpets, but rendered in various
colours, include one sold in these rooms, 25th
February 1983, lot 130; another sold at Christie’s
New York, 29th November 1990, lot 382; and a
smaller version sold in these rooms, 19th March
1997, lot 143. Compare related carpets attributed to
the early eighteenth century with a ! oral design and
a single axis of symmetry, such as one depicting a
large chrysanthemum bloom amongst foliate scrolls
enclosed within a triple border of various designs,
from the collections of The Textile Gallery, London,
Lady Schiennen, and Asian Art Gallery, London, sold
in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2010, lot 1861;
and another, sold at Christie’s New York, 2nd June
1989.
$ 60,000-80,000
૶འ͍ රήڀ̓७င഑ـಡ

154 SOTHEBY’S