A rare Gansu “Buddhist lion” wool carpet
十八世紀 甘肅獅紋地毯
The rug is decorated with a central blue-ground floral medallion symmetrically flanked by pairs of yellow Buddhist lions above and below, each with a paw on a brocade ball, all on a red ground with scattered floral elements. The spandrels are filled with geometrical scrollwork in tones of blue and white, and the multiple concentric borders feature key-fret scrolls in yellow on orange and blue on red.
For a discussion of the lion-dog motif on Chinese carpets, see Michael Franses, "The Lion-Dog Carpets" in Lion-dogs Hundred Antiques. Classical Chinese Carpets 1, London, 2000.
Dimensions: Dimensions: 216 x 147 cm (85 x 57 ⅝ inches)
Date: Late 18th century
Stock No. 2012
Price: On Request