Carpet of woven silk and cotton, Shache, 19th century Rug of silk woven with symmetrical pattern along the length and the width. At the centre is a geometrical design inside a circle on a yellow background. The rest of the pattern consists of simple, stylised flowers. Some of these emanate from blue vases, of which there is one at each end of the carpet. Fretwork occupies each corner of the central field. All of this decoration is in blue and red-pink. The border is blue and red fretwork between narrow strips of alternating black and yellow squares. There is a fringe at each end. Wrap: undyed cotton; Z6S; 18 threads per inch (66 per dm); depressed. Weft:undyed cotton; Z7S; 3 shoots after each row of knots; 7 knots per inch (25 per dm) Pile: silk; 5 colours:yellow, light green, light blue, purple, black; asymmetrical knot open to the left and tied around two threads; 63 knots per sq. inch (825 knots per sq.dm) Side finish: 1 cord oversewn with purple silk. End finish: lower:missing; upper: missing but with 1 inch (2cm) weft-faced plain weave with undyed cotton weft.