Antique Mongolian carpets have along history going back almost to the Mongol period in China. Few if any early carpets of this kind are actually are preserved, but they are represented in illuminated Chinese manuscripts, where they appear in a form similar to examples still produced today. Mongolian carpets have a transparent composition utilizing see-through motifs against a uniform ground, in keeping with Chinese rug design. The motifs themselves are generally Chinese - meanders, knotwork, and fretted medallions - with an taste for open spaces. Colors are soft and earthy with emphasis on subtle mixing of tones or variegation.
|
