Peking Arts and Crafts rug

This charming fin de siècle rug was woven in Beijing blending Chinese with Western ideas and forms. The butterfly is a symbol of immortality in Chinese culture. Butterflies are drawn fluttering throughout the indigo border, fully articulated as corner-pieces within the field, and arranged as a cruciform medallion in the center. While elements of this piece such as subject matter and color are fully in keeping with Chinese traditions, the spacious drawing seen here reflects the sensibility of the contemporaneous Arts and Crafts movement in Europe.