NORTH CHINA, MID 19TH CENTURY

The overall repeat design of this silk Ningxia rug is formed of an arrangement of four, inward facing bats, enclosing the Chinese 'Shou' symbol. This archaic combination is a powerful Chinese auspicious rebus representing "happiness and longevity" (fushou), which can be seen on a wool Ningxia rug, circa 1800, of a similar design on an ivory ground in the MATAM collection (Moshe Tabibnia, Intrecci Cinesi, Milan, 2011, pp154-5, pl.26).