Page 150 - 2021 April 1, ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs, Christie's London

■*145
AN IMPERIAL SILK AND METAL-THREAD CHINESE RUG This carpet is one of a group of so-called ‘palace’ carpets supposedly woven
LATE QING PERIOD, NORTH CHINA, CIRCA 1910 for the palaces of Beijing’s Forbidden City during the Qing dynasty. The
The field and spandrels embroidered in 'gilt' metal-thread, with silk pile, inscription of this example states that it was woven to adorn the Palace of
localised light wear, overall good condition Great Benevolence - one of the 'Six Eastern Palaces' in the inner court of
8ft.4in. x 5ft.2in. (256cm. x 158cm.) the Forbidden City. First built in 1420, this palace faces south within the
complex and houses a stone screen inside the main entrance which is said
£7,000-10,000 US$10,000-14,000
to date from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Originally it was the residence
€8,200-12,000
for the emperors’ concubines in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In the Qing
The Chinese five character inscription reads: Jing ren gong bei yong (For use Dynasty (1644-1911), Emperor Kangxi (r.1661-1722) was born and lived here
in the Palace of Great Benevolence) temporarily. After that time, it was used by the emperors’ wives.
The elegant field design displaying mirrored pavilions flanked by swooping
cranes and a partially submerged sea dragon within each spandrel is
particularly close to another ‘palace’ carpet currently exhibited in ‘Kulun
– The Elixir Carpets’ at the Museo Schneiberg, Turin and illustrated in
HALI, no. 206, winter 2020, p. 107. Two further, slightly larger, carpets of
(detail of inscription)
comparable design were sold at Sotheby’s, London, 5 November 2008, lot
174 and 9 November 2011, lot 133.

148 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.