A Ninghsia rug, West China,

This rug depicts the eight horses of the Emperor Mu Wang playfully frolicking after their legendary journeys of pulling his highness throughout the kingdom.  Mu Wang reigned during the Chou period (1122-770 B.C.) and his voyages in an eight-horse drawn carriage became the subject of myth, with the horses being a popular motif in decorative arts such as ceramics and in rugs of the Kangshi (1662-1723) and later periods.  For related examples please see "Beautiful Old Chinese Rugs (from the collection of) Mr Thomas B. Clarke" American Art Association, New York, January 6-9, 1915, lot 508, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see Dimand, M.S. and Mailey, Jean, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1973, fig. 295, cat. no. 221; and lot 94, Christie's New York, 11 September 1990, formerly in the collection of the Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, New Jersey.