Chinese rug making

Fifth  great epoch in the  production of Chinese styles began with the Emperor   K'ang-hsi   of   the  present dynasty, and extended for one hundred years   until    the   latter    part   of   the   eighteenth century.    

The influence of Persia and the middle Orient was felt very much dming this period, and differentiated its ornament from all that had gone before.

The historic   ornament   of   China   as applied to the decoration of rugs may be divided into these five great styles.

From these styles weavers have appropriated the designs best adapted to the limitations of their looms, and oftentimes,  when ornament as applied to some other of the industrial arts is copied by weavers, great freedom is notice­able in the handling of designs.    

The arts are interdependent, and the objects produced  by jade, ivory, and wood carvers, bronze mirror makers and potters have furnished rug weavers with many  of their most attractive  inspira­tions.     

These five styles may be subdivided, contracted or extended for specific purposes, but the broad classification is all that is nec­ essary in the study of rugs.