Presented by the late Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. A very unique and beautiful piece. It is one of the most celebrated and costly rugs in America. The cloud bands and the five clawed Chinese dragons are framed in by the Chinese fret.
It is practically within the last decade or so that the artistic merits of the Chinese rugs have been fully appreciated. Previous to that time they were promptly laid aside to make place for the other Oriental weaves. A few wise connoisseurs were in the meantime securing all the choice pieces available and some have made themselves independently wealthy by their sagacious forethought. At the present time Chinese rugs are eagerly sought and treasured more than those of any other class, good ones bringing fabulous prices.
To illustrate the rapid advance in the value of choice pieces the writer will relate one incident out of many similar ones which to his knowledge have occurred.
About eighteen years ago a wealthy horseman of Central New York died leaving a stable which, together with its furnishings, was worth many thousands of dollars. Sometime after his death the furnishings were sold at public auction. Among the articles thus disposed of was a Chinese rug 10 × 12 which was bid in by a New York man for $150.00. Two years ago it was resold for $25,000.
Excluding those of recent make, Chinese rugs are of good workmanship and honest dyes, the weavers being little influenced by modern ideas, consequently they are durable and, on account of their original Mongolian designs, can easily be distinguished from the other Oriental products. Unfortunately, on account of the growing scarcity of wool in China and on account of foreign invasion, the rug industry seems to be dying out.
The classification of Chinese rugs is a difficult matter, in fact anything like an accurate classification is impossible even for a connoisseur for they cannot be assigned to the different provinces by the finish of their sides and ends as are the other Oriental weaves, but the classification must depend mostly upon the colors, materials and workmanship, which were in vogue at certain periods, as well as the effect of time upon these colors and materials.