For example take an Art Deco era Chinese rug. There may be just a flowering branch in one corner and in another corner a Chinese pavilion with willow trees. The rest of the rug is unadorned with a solid color field. The border has no ornamentation either. This spartan design evokes a Zen-like quality that is most appealing.

Of course there are the traditional Chinese design rugs with near perfect symmetry. Auspicious symbols and patterns are integral to such rugs. The eight symbols of Buddhism, eight symbols of Daoism, symbols of the four accomplishments, and the eight precious objects taken from the Hundred Antiquities all figure prominently in these rugs. Animals also frequently occur on Chinese rugs. Other motifs such as mountains, water and clouds occur in more or less realistic shapes. Then there are character symbols especially the 'shou' or variants of the character for long life.

There are not as many books on Chinese rugs compared to Persian rugs. Any one of them is required reading should you to want appreciate or be an avid collector. Unfortunately there are not many dealers who carry old and Art Deco era Chinese rugs exclusively.

Some other observations. These Chinese rugs are beautiful works of art. They are highly affordable. They feel like velvet on your feet. And they are great with any Asian interior design style.

Below are a few examples. Again the pictures do little justice to the real thing. The rugs are displayed sans other furniture or in any room setting. That is left to your creative imagination for your own Asian look. You can email or call should you want to explore possibilities.

CR01: 9'2" x 11'7" This is a splendid floral composition probably from the 1930s. The flowers are arranged as nosegays. Strings of colorful ribbons or stylized flowers reminiscent of origami trail from the nosegays. At the four corners are floral vases with auspicious symbols like the ruyi sceptre.

CR02: 8' x 9'8" Here is an example of a sparsely decorated rug. Notice the rich imperial indigo blue field with a burgundy border. To the top left corner is a vase with flowers. This floral vase is repeated on the lower right corner.

The top right corner has floral branches of peony and other species emerging out of a rock cropping. This ikebana like floral arrangement simply floats out of the blue field. At the lower left corner is a Chinese pavilion bridge with a weeping willow tree (see detail). The rug is very appealing in its spartan design.

CR003: 9' x 11'5" This rug is circa 1900s. Its origin is Chinese. But the floral sprigs leaf and fruit tendrils give it a European look. Perhaps it was woven for export. The dominant color over a beige brown field is the floral sprigs in rich tones of blue black. The border has tree peony motifs. There are also butterflies, Chinese symbols of marital happiness.

Note: color difference due to indoor and outdoor lighting.

CR004: 9'11" x 11'10" Mid to late 19th century. This is a typical Baotou-Suiyuan rug. There are five even sized floral roundrels on a brocade field. The brocade field has a damask like look. The floral pattern is repeated at the four corners. An inner meander border in yellow over deep blue is typical. The outer border has bats, shou characters, rosettes and flowering sprigs. One other feature which is quite unusual are the rounded corners. In excellent full pile.

CR005: 8'1" x 9'8" Another Art Deco example. The floral sprigs float between a plum color border and a magenta-aubergine color field. The chrysanthemums and other flowers are in a bright kingfisher feather turquoise blue. The top right corner spots a buttefly hovering over the floral branches. Very ikebana floral arrangements all over the rug. Unfortunately the poor camera lighting does not show the dark colors well.

CR007: 8'2" x 9'10" Below are design details from a 1930's Art Deco Chinese rug measuring 8'2" by 9'10". The design is traditional with a different floral motif in the four corners. On the top right corner a lantern hangs down with a double happiness character inscribed. Each corner of the floral patterns are different. The top right corner also has some cloud band design.

Unlike some Art Deco rugs where there are strong bright colors, the colors on this rug are earthy and patinated making it easy to blend and decorate with any style of furnishings. Shown below are the top left and right corners. The lower top right corner has some wear which is expected for an older rug.

Did you know... In old China there were five primary colors, each with an equivalent position on the compass (the center being the fifth cardinal point). Black was north; blue/green, east; red, south; white, west; yellow, the centre.

Certain colors were reserved for the imperial families: green for the Ming emperor's family, and imperial yellow for the Manchu clan.

Indigo is the only natural dye that is hardly affected by light or washing, remaining virtually unchanged over the years. It is obtained from Indigofera tinctoria , which grows in China and India.

Sometimes you will find white 'dots' on a rug. This is what I term snowing. Most Chinese rugs use a cotton foundation which sometimes expose the ends of two tied warp threads as white 'dots.' Snowing is more obvious in dark colored fields. Snowing appeal to collectors just like abrash on Persian rugs.

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