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