Khotan

This colorful pictorial rug was woven in the Tarim Basin region of East Turkestan, the western most part of China bordering Central Asia. While the weavers were Turkic speaking Muslims, the piece is heavily reliant on Chinese decorative arts. Perhaps symbolic of the seasons or taken from another set of Chinese symbols, distinct vases are drawn with flowering plants. This approach, along with a vibrant color palette, may be a local attempt at the aesthetic of Art Deco Chinese carpets woven further east in Beijing at this time. Formerly in the inventory of the legendary dealer William Coury.