Antique Chinese Art Deco Rug, 11x16, "Palace Blossoms at Dusk"

Palace Blossoms at Dusk is a spectacular, palace-sized Chinese Art Deco rug, hand-knotted by the celebrated Fette-Li Rug Company, circa 1930s. Measuring approximately 10'10" × 15'9" (130 × 189 inches), it is an unusually large and impressive example of the Chinese Deco tradition.

The design centers on an exuberant garden of flowering branches, rendered in soft coral, rose, lavender, celadon, sage and warm ivory against a rich blue ground. The flowers seem almost to float across the field, framed by an elegant, architectural cartouche and surrounded by elaborate floral borders. A very dark navy outer border gives the entire composition remarkable depth and presence.

The colors inspired the name Palace Blossoms at Dusk: there is something wonderfully atmospheric about the contrast between the softly colored flowers and the deep blues surrounding them. From across a room, the rug reads as a grand, almost painterly composition; up close, the individual blossoms, curling leaves and subtle variations of color emerge.

This rug was produced by Fette-Li, one of the most important names in Chinese Art Deco rug making. The company was founded in the early 1920s by American Helen Fette and Chinese rugmaker Li Mengshu. Fette-Li became known for bringing together traditional Chinese imagery and craftsmanship with the adventurous colors and freer compositions of the emerging Art Deco era. The company employed both Chinese and Western designers, with Helen Fette overseeing design, quality and the development of its distinctive aesthetic.

That synthesis is especially evident here. The profusion of blossoms is rooted in the long Chinese decorative tradition, while the dramatic scale, saturated blue palette, stylized drawing and unusually open treatment of the central field give the rug its unmistakably 20th-century character. Fette-Li rugs were produced largely for the international—particularly American—market and became one of the defining expressions of Chinese Art Deco carpet design during the 1920s and 1930s.

The rug is hand-knotted in wool on a cotton foundation. It has the substantial, soft wool pile and supple construction associated with Fette-Li weaving.

Rug Details

• Title: Palace Blossoms at Dusk
• Maker: Fette-Li Rug Company
• Design: Produced under the direction of Helen Fette
• Origin: China
• Date: Circa 1930s
• Size: 130 × 189 inches (approx. 10'10" × 15'9")
• Materials: Wool pile on cotton foundation
• Construction: Hand-knotted
• Condition: Good antique condition, with a bit of visible wear in some areas
• Price: $1,800

The areas of wear are visible in the detailed photographs and video. They give the rug the character of a genuine antique while leaving its overall design, color and dramatic decorative effect very much intact.

At nearly sixteen feet long, this is a true room-defining rug—large enough to anchor a substantial living room, dining room, library or great room. Its combination of scale, deep blue color, history and lush floral imagery makes it a particularly striking survivor of the Chinese Art Deco period.

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Make It Yours

Order online, or contact me to arrange a private appointment to see the rug in person in Silver Spring, Maryland.

At this scale, photographs can only convey so much. Seen on the floor, the sweeping blue field and enormous garden of blossoms have a presence that is both grand and serene.