Design Lineage

The zebra design belongs to a celebrated group of Art Deco carpets attributed to the architect Oliver Hill (1887–1968), a leading figure of British 1930s modernism whose commissions included Claridge's and the British Pavilion at the 1937 Paris Exposition. The original zebra carpets were woven by the Nichols Carpet Manufactory in Tientsin (Tianjin), northern China — a maker celebrated in the 1920s–40s for Art Deco, Western-influenced carpets exported to Europe and America.

This piece is a new rug, hand-knotted in Tibetan technique, made in the manner of an antique Tientsin Nichols carpet, carrying the Oliver Hill–attributed zebra design. It is a faithful reinterpretation — not an original Nichols piece — executed in highland wool for a contemporary interior.

Colour and Composition

On a warm ivory-cream ground, dense black brushstroke stripes sweep outward from a central vertical spine in mirrored fan-shaped tiers, reading like the pelt of a zebra abstracted into pure Art Deco rhythm. The drawing is graphic and directional, with rounded corners and a clean unbordered edge that keeps the eye on the striped movement. The palette is a confident two-tone of ivory and black — a piece that works as a strong graphic statement in a restrained interior.

Presence in the Room

At 200 × 120 cm (2.4 m²) this is a versatile small-to-medium statement piece. Three contexts in which it reaches its full effect:

• Modern living room: As a graphic anchor in front of a sofa, the black-and-ivory rhythm pairs with mid-century and contemporary furniture.
• Bedroom statement: Beside or at the foot of a bed, the Art Deco striping animates a calm, monochrome scheme.
• Entrance or study: In a smaller room the directional design draws the eye and gives a designer signature to the space.

Specifications

Responsible Origin · Label STEP

Djoharian is a certified partner of Label STEP, the international fair-trade organisation for hand-knotted rugs. STEP audits production conditions on the ground — wages, working environment, no child labour — and tracks pieces from loom to dealer.

Djoharian — Since 1967

Our family business was founded in 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran — five decades of trade and connoisseurship behind every piece we offer.

Service

Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured. Each piece is professionally inspected and shipped with a certificate of authenticity. We are available for any questions on placement, care, or comparable pieces.