antique Chinese Art Deco circular wool or silk on cotton dragon rug made for the export market, circa 1930s-40s
The rug is 260cm in diamter (including the 13.5cm tassles). It is approximately 2.5cm thick and very dense. There is no label or markings that I can see. The rear is very soft and shows tight weaves with some inconsistencies. The patterns have good detail and intricate shading, and the outlines are deep as if the pile has been trimmed. I'm unsure of the material however the burn test matches silk well. The threads recoil, ignite very briefly and char, the smell is similar to burning hair, and the ash crumbles into soft beads. The pile also gets warm when rubbed with my palm. There is no visible damage, wear, or marking on the rug.
A circle of 260cm total diameter, including 13.5cm tassles/ fringe all the way around.
Secondhand Store
Yes
Hi Brad,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Chinese weavers actively engaged during the Art Deco period (1930-40s), producing lavish rugs and carpets that combined Asian motifs with Western aesthetics and which appealed to a large export market. The large size of this rug is unusual and while it likely does limit the number of potential buyers should you elect to sell this at auction (not everyone has a space large enough for this), its strong colors and vibrant design add to its value.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An antique Chinese Art Deco circular wool or silk on cotton dragon rug
made for the export market, circa 1930s-40s
The cobalt-colored ground centering two facing five-toed dragons with auspicious symbols, and cream-colored selvedge (fringe). Apparently unsigned.
Diameter 260 cm (102-1/4 inches, or 8 feet 6-1/4 inches)
CONDITION: This rug appears to be in generally good condition; value assumes no tears, stains or odors.
PROVENANCE: Acquired from a second-hand store
£1,550-2,300*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
Thanks, Brad; you're all set with this - apologies for the delay - the appraiser who initially took this wasn't able to finish it on time so I jumped in to get it to you as fast as possible.
Delia
Hi Delia,
Thank you so much for the appraisal, that’s all great.
Just two questions, i’m UK based, as the valuation is in USD would the valuation be the same for the UK market?
And would an anyiques auction be the best route for selling something like this?
Thanks
Brad
I've converted the value from USD to GBP as the market for this is consistent worldwide. Now that you know what this is worth, you can certainly check out antiques auctions near you. If you've marked this as "for sale" and with a "public" status, it is already listed on Mearto's marketplace and you may receive offers for it (you're not obligated to accept any of them).
Alterantively, you might consider an online auction platform called Catawiki that Mearto has partnered with to offer you an even better opportunity to sell your item.
Catawiki hosts over 600 auctions each week. It is free to list your item, buyers pay shipping and commission rates are much lower than most competitors.
If you'd like to check it out, please just copy and paste the following link into your browser:https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101lHtv3/pubref:delia
I hope this answers your questions but if not please let me know and I'll follow up at my earliest convenience.
Delia
Hi Delia,
Thanks for getting back to me. Yes the rug is just over 102inches in diameter.
Best,
Brad