3' x 5' Chinese Art Deco Rug | Grey Field | Black Cloud Medallion | Gold Frame and Ruyi Border
Cool grey, black and gold give this 3' x 5' Chinese Art Deco rug a graphic, tailored look that sits as comfortably in a modern apartment as in a traditional study. It is hand-knotted in a wool and silk pile on a cotton foundation at approximately 340 to 360 knots per square inch, and the motifs are carved in relief so they stand slightly proud of the field, catching light and shadow as you walk past. The rug has never been used, is in excellent condition and comes with a certificate of authenticity. It is one of the most distinctive pieces among our 3x5 rugs, ideal for an entry, a bedside or a reading corner.
Design and Motifs
At the center sits a round black medallion built from stylized cloud scrolls, ringed by small gold and taupe blossoms. Around it, the open grey field is left mostly plain, the hallmark of the Art Deco style, with only 4 round corner medallions of interlocking scrolls in grey, black and taupe. A slim gold frame band runs around the field like a picture mat, and beyond it a wide black main border carries a continuous chain of ruyi scrolls, the cloud-head motif that symbolizes good fortune in Chinese art, drawn in taupe and pale grey. Because the pile is carved around each motif, the scrolls and medallions have a subtle 3-dimensional quality that photographs only hint at.
Grey, Black and Gold
Grey forms the open field, a soft, cool tone with a gentle sheen where the silk catches the light, so it looks slightly different from every angle. Black anchors the design in the central medallion and the main border, giving the rug strong contrast and a clear outline. Gold runs through the frame band and the small blossoms around the medallion, adding warmth and a touch of shine. Taupe, a soft blush-brown, colors the cloud scrolls in the border and corners, while beige and white highlight the edges of the motifs. The palette is restrained and elegant, well suited to rooms with grey, black or brass accents and to contemporary furniture.
Chinese Art Deco Weaving
Art Deco rugs from China grew out of the workshops of the early 20th century, when Chinese weavers began combining traditional symbols such as clouds, ruyi heads and round medallions with the open fields and bold contrasts of the Art Deco movement. Their signature is the carved pile, where the weaver trims around each motif to give it depth, and a restrained palette that leaves large areas of the field calm and open. This rug is made in China, not Persia, and we list it among our hand-knotted Oriental rugs. It brings the style to a compact 3' x 5' format, a black cloud medallion floating on soft grey inside a gold frame.
