Hand-Knotted Tibetan Khaden Rug | Pomegranate Vase Panels

This elegant antique rug from East Turkestan (present-day Xinjiang, Western China) presents a highly refined and culturally layered composition, characteristic of the great weaving centres along the Silk Road—most likely Khotan or its surrounding oasis towns.

The field is conceived as a structured panel, within which a sequence of stylised pomegranate and vase-like motifs is arranged in a rhythmic procession. These elongated forms, delicately articulated and symmetrically aligned, evoke abundance and continuity. In Central Asian and Chinese symbolism alike, the pomegranate is a powerful emblem of fertility, prosperity, and the promise of many descendants, while the vase suggests harmony and the containment of auspicious energy.

The composition is framed by a series of orderly borders, each contributing to the architectural clarity of the piece. The outer bands, enlivened with small floral and vegetal elements, introduce a gentle counterpoint to the disciplined geometry of the field. The overall effect is one of measured elegance, where repetition becomes meditative and the spacing between motifs allows the design to breathe—an aesthetic refinement typical of East Turkestan weavings.

The drawing is precise yet retains a softness in execution, suggesting a workshop environment that balanced technical control with artisanal sensitivity. The luminous ground further enhances the legibility of the motifs, giving the entire composition a radiant, almost textile-like quality reminiscent of silk brocades that circulated along the Silk Road.

Woven in silky, resilient wool, the surface would have originally displayed a gentle sheen, reinforcing both the visual clarity and the tactile appeal of the piece.

Age: Late 19th to early 20th century (circa 1880–1920)
Condition: Structurally in sound conditions with no repairs and overall well preserved for its age
Colours (5): Soft golden yellow — warm saffron / olive — celadon green / ivory — light cream / subtle coral — muted terracotta / pale brown — soft grey
Dimensions: 140 cm × 257 cm (55.1 in × 101.2 in)