2026 | Professional

MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner

Heritage Craft Printing Rug-Dunhuang Phoenix Tribut

Entrant

TIANJIN ZHONGGUAN CARPET

Category

Product Design - Textiles / Floor Coverings

Client's Name

-

Country / Region

China

About The Entry

-Carpet Craftsmanship Design-

Made from a polyester-cotton blend, this carpet is machine-woven yet retains the fine texture of handmade rugs. Heat transfer printing precisely applies richly layered, vibrant patterns onto the base fabric, overcoming the color limitations of traditional hand-knotting and greatly enhancing production efficiency and design flexibility. Additionally, the carpet has passed machine-washability tests, making it durable and easy to clean—solving the maintenance challenges of conventional carpets. It is also foldable for convenient storage, combining artistic appeal with everyday practicality.

-Pattern Design-

Dunhuang Impression: A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix reinterprets the classic Chinese theme by blending Dunhuang decorative motifs with Art Nouveau elements. Phoenixes, green parrots, waterbirds, nest-inspired imagery, and botanical patterns come together in an imagined avian gathering.

Two phoenixes anchor the composition; the original aggressive postures of the parrots are softened to convey peace, symbolizing harmony, vitality, and renewal.

The primary motifs draw from Northern Wei and Northern Zhou Dunhuang border decorations, with subtle accents from the Tang and Northern Song dynasties. These elements are selectively simplified and rearranged to suit the carpet’s scale. Art Nouveau’s flowing curves and continuous rhythms link birds, branches, and flowers, infusing movement while preserving Dunhuang’s distinctive character.

Layered borders guide the eye from dense outer vegetation toward an open center; repetition creates balance, while the asymmetrical positioning of the phoenixes adds narrative dynamism. Deep blue, turquoise, pale pink, and soft gold blend into a rich yet serene palette.

The result is a contemporary Dunhuang vision—a carpet that transforms historical motifs through imagination, celebrating the fusion of beauty across artistic traditions.

Credits

Main Designer
Yao Sun
Main Designer(Carpet Manufacturing)
Jianyou Sun
Main Designer(Pattern Design)
Yimeng Li
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