79527 Antique Chinese Art Deco Mandarin Rug, 10'11 x 15'03.

The Phoenix Salon: An Antique Chinese Mandarin Masterpiece of Shanghai Elegance

This hand-knotted Manchester wool antique Chinese Art Deco Mandarin rug is a masterwork born from the electric cultural crossroads of Old Shanghai and pre-war Manhattan. Woven during the golden age of Shanghai Art Deco and inspired by the visionary eye of Walter Nichols, the rug captures a moment when East and West converged in cinematic splendor. Its presence is unmistakably cosmopolitan—designed for interiors that valued drama, sophistication, and worldly refinement, from jazz-lit penthouses to silk-draped salons.

At the heart of the composition lies a rounded floral open medallion, delicately articulated with small-scale blossoms and leafy tendrils that seem to hover rather than anchor. This sense of weightless elegance continues across the abrashed deep burgundy field, where sprigs of flora float freely, creating a rhythmic balance between openness and ornament. The surrounding botanical arrangement feels intentionally curated, evoking the restraint and glamour of Art Deco design rather than traditional density.

Throughout the sumptuous field, the revered quartet of Chinese flowers—the lotus, peony, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom—unfold in harmonious dialogue. Together, they symbolize the Four Seasons, a poetic meditation on time, continuity, and renewal. Individually, each bloom carries profound meaning: purity and perfection, honor and wealth, longevity and contentment, resilience and fortitude. Interspersed among these florals are subtle sprigs of lingzhi fungus, the legendary “plant of immortality,” lending this exquisite work of art an esoteric depth reserved for collectors fluent in cultural symbolism.

Encasing the field is an exquisitely layered border composition that elevates the rug into true Art Deco grandeur. A delicate plum blossom garland inner guard frames the scene, while the main border unfolds as a vibrant patchwork of blossoms over a stylized wave motif, punctuated by cartouches holding vases and planters. These vessels—filled with lotuses, peonies, and lingzhi—carry auspicious rebus symbolism, invoking harmony, virtue, and the wish for enduring peace and prosperity. Set against a regal blue ground, the border completes a composition that feels both opulent and intellectual, making this extraordinary masterpiece not merely a decorative statement, but a cultural artifact of rare distinction.

• Abrash.
• Hand knotted Manchester wool.
• Made in China.
• Measures: 10'11 x 15'03.
• Date: 1910's. Early 20th Century.