Early 20th Century Russian and Scandinavian Rugs

Up for sale is an Early-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug

Vintage Swedish wool flat-weave rug, designed by Marta Maas-Fjetterström (1873-1941). Made in 1937. Signed MMF which is proof Marta made this rug during her lifetime. After her de...

One of a kind 2nd quarter of the 20th Century Karabagh runner with 4 large horses walking and colliding into one another 5' x 9'9''

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

Israeli Rugs – Israel is home to a surprisingly large and well-established carpet-weaving community. Area Carpet weavers in Israel had very serious traditions that were cultural, tec...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

78477 Margareta Ahlstedt-Willandt Finnish Flatweave Rug, 06'04 x 09'10. Woven in the golden hush between seasons, this antique Finnish flatweave rug ...

a Sweet Persian Pictorial mat in tan light blue and red accents Details rug no. r5046 size 1' 9" x 2' 9" (53 x 84 cm)

78461 Antique French Scandinavian Verdure Tapestry Handwoven in Sweden, 04'01 x 06'09. Emanating timeless style with incredible detail and texture, this handwoven wool antique verdure tapestry is a captivating vision of woven beauty. The idyllic pastoral scene and soft earthy colorway woven into this piece work together creating a look of true Old World charm. The antique verdure wall hanging depicts a peaceful wooded landscape with dense green vegetation. Nestled among the trees are a couple of exotic birds. A horizontal floral...

Needlepoint rugs were created using the traditional needlework weaving technique that is used to make everyday items from furniture to carpets and artwork. However, it has a fascinating history both as a hobby and as an industry. When many people think of carpets, they think of pile carpets or flat weave kilims, but needlepoint has also been used to create beautiful carpets. These carpets are durable and an important part of carpet history. Archaeologists and scholars consider the roots of needlepoint to have been around 1500 BC. They consider the first needlepoint to include the fine diagonal stitches that were used to sew tents together by the ancient Egyptians. The art eventually evolved into tapestry weaving. However, a tapestry weaving differs significantly from needlepoint in that it uses a loom and vertical warp. Tapestry weaving is closer to the weaving of kilims and pile rugs than canvas work. However, some still include tapestry weaving in the category of needlepoint because of the fine work that appeared during the late Renaissance. It can have a similar appearance to the untrained eye. Technically, tapestry weaving and needlepoint are not the same, and they do not use the same technique. The first actual needlepoint rugs and needle-points began to appear in the late Renaissance. Needlepoint is worked by creating stitches on a stiff canvas. The canvas is typically made from jute or linen and is quite durable. Pieces from the Renaissance were used to cover footstools, chairs, pillows, bed headboards, and other furnishings. They were also used as table coverings and wall coverings. You could also find them on many small items such as purses, shoes, and various adornments for clothing. During the Renaissance, the craft reached a high level of skill, and the designs became incredibly detailed and realistic. They mimicked many of the subjects and styles of famous paintings of the time. They created florals, still life designs, scenes, and geometric tiled pieces. Some of them mimicked the designs found in Persian Carpets. Needlepoint reached its peak popularity in the 19th century when it was considered a proper occupation for a lady. Needlepoint and embroidery held a similar place in societal status at the time. During this time, the work became finer, with some of the canvas reaching a high level of detail. The level of detail is determined by counting the number of mesh in an inch. During this time petit point by French needlewomen could have a mesh count as high as 45 mesh. This allowed women to create highly intricate designs with incredible levels of detail. It is possible to find many antique pieces of needlepoint besides rugs. Needlepoint rugs were popular in France and Spain, where the technique was adapted to create highly intricate designs that mimicked the designs in architecture and fashion. They were popular because they were durable, and it could be fashioned into a variety of items. The canvases themselves were durable, and the wool that they used was also strong, which means that many of the pieces were able to withstand daily use. We have many artifacts that have survived from this time period. Needlepoint rugs are important collectibles because they are different from the pile rugs and kilims that are typically found on the market. Needlepoint carpets are special because they take many hours to create, especially larger works. Needlepoint pieces of any type became popular throughout Europe during the 19th century. It is still a popular hobby today, but perhaps one of the most interesting stories is that of the Portuguese needlewomen of Arraiolos. The story of these women and their beautiful carpets begins in 1492. Needlepoint was a popular occupation in Spain, which had a large population of Moors and Jews. They were an integral part of Spanish culture. However, in 1492, Queen Isabella of Spain issued a proclamation that gave these ethnic groups the order to pack their bags and board ships headed...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Persian Mohtashem Rugs – Antique Rugs By Mohtashem From Kashan – Ustad Mohtashem is one of the most revered weavers of Kashan. His rugs are some of the highest quality Persian weaving. The town of Kashan located in central Iran between Isfahan and Tehran is often referred to as the greatest weaving center in western Persia. Since the 3rd quarter of the 19th century and for about 30 years, the finest and most delicate area rugs of wool and silk were woven by arguably the most respected ustadan (master weaver), Zufilkhar Ed Din Mohtashem. These fine Persian rugs are noted for their use of purple and ruby red silk bindings for the selvedges. They are characterized by a particular style, color and use of imported merino wool. Whether signed or unsigned, antique Mohtashem Kashan rugs are considered the crème de la crème of all antique Kashan rugs. In modern times, the Mohtashem name is well known, but very little is known about his origins. It remained a mystery whether or not Mohtasham was simply a trade name, or whether he had actually existed. There is a legend going around according to which Hadji Mollah Mohammad Hassan Mohtashem of Kashan was a well-to-do businessman, famous for his textiles. However, in the 1880’s business was bad owing to the importing of machine-worked textiles from Europe. The story goes that Mohtashem had married a young woman from Sultanabad, who had brought with her from her city of origin the ancient tradition of the knotted carpet. In view of the fact that business did not seem to be picking up, his wife wove a carpet using merino wool imported from Manchester. Upon completion of the carpet, local merchants were so enthusiastic that they commissioned more similar ones. This drove Mohtasham not only to ask his wife to start weaving again, but also to train other weavers of Kashan to produce carpets using this model. Thus, according to the legend of the bazaar, the art of the carpet began again; it had been lost in Kashan since the fall of the Safavid dynasty in 1723. This sparked a revival of the art of the carpet in Kashan; in 1890 there were only three operating looms, and that these became one thousand five hundred in 1900 and four thousand in 1949. This specific Mohtashem carpet exemplifies how art can influence the onlooker. To appreciate such a great work of art, no great knowledge is needed; all one needs to enjoy this carpet is mere observation and attention to detail. This Mohtashem, woven with high quality kourk wool and an extremely fine weave, is unusual with its all-over design of delicate scrolling floral vines and palmettes in soft blues and ivory colors. The combination of the colors used coupled with the exceptional condition and the fact that Mohtashem rugs are never found in runner sizes make this a truly rare and magnificent work of art. What did you imagine as you read that just now? No doubt it was an elegant and refined weaving graced with curvilinear flora that winds its way through and around a commanding medallion. A rug that draws dropped jaws from anyone that beholds its magnificence. A sea of swirling ruby tones, indigo, sapphire — a rug as bejeweled and becoming as a sultans own palace. The image may seem fantastic, but in truth antique Mohtashem rugs boast just these types of elements. Mohtashem rugs from city of Kashan are some of the finest rugs to emerge from the major Persian weaving centers of old and are synonymous with the quality one would expect from an antique Persian rug. History Of Antique Persian Mohtasham: The 19th century Persian Mohtasham rugs, are the rarest of all the antique rugs that were woven in the city of Kashan in the modern day country of Iran. These fine and beautiful antique rugs utilize color palettes and designs that are not exactly traditional. The reflective quality of the rugs’ surface comes from high grade lamb’s wool used to create these elite master weave carpets. The truly extraordinarily fine knotted antique Mohtasham rugs are difficult to locate. These magnificent antique Persian rugs tend to employ either an antique leaf, allover blossoms with intricate detail or a teardrop medallion pattern. The antique Persian Mohtashem carpets that date from the mid 19th century or before are the most prized of this style. Earth tones and pastels that have been softened over time are the colors used. Some of the most beautiful Mohtasham rugs will have a background that is gold or antique ivory to reflect the exquisite detail of the fine Persian carpets. Private collections are usually the only place that very old antique...

Finely woven early 20th century handmade Kuba rug in easy-going earthy palette.

Rug Number 31283 Size 4' 10" X 6' 3" Design Shirvan Collection Antique/Vintage Material Wool Texture Pile Weave Origin Russia Age Antique/Vintage

a 1920s Accent size Persian Meshed rug with an animal pictorial design on a rosy red field Details rug no. j4376 size 3' 11" x 6' 3" (119 x 191 cm)

79050 Vintage Swedish Scandinavian Flossa Rug, 05'09 x 07'11. A vision of Nordic restraint meets Bauhaus bravado, this vintage Swedish Flossa rug is...

Rug Number 17218 Size 3' 5" X 6' 2" Design Chichi Collection Antique/Vintage Material Wool Texture Pile Weave Origin Russia Age Antique/Vintage.

78476 Impi Sotavalta Vintage Finnish Rollakan, 06'06 x 09'07. A rare and radiant embodiment of Nordic modernism, this handwoven Finnish rollakan rug—possibly crafted by the esteemed Suomen Kästyön Ystävät Oy (The Friends of Finnish Handicrafts) and attributed to the visionary Impi Sotavalta—transcends textile to become a work of fine art. In this singular composition, bold Art Deco geometry converges with Bauhaus clarity, yielding a design language that is both architectural and intuitive. The rug’s abstract arrangement—a mosaic of angular motifs in coral, clay, rosewood, and apricot—is set against a striated mauve-brick ground, echoing both the Nordic forest floor and the fading light of a Finnish evening. This extraordinary masterpiece is not merely decorative; it is an expression of intellectual artistry and cultural refinement, designed to resonate with those who value authenticity and elevated craftsmanship. The asymmetrical forms—some edged in moss green, others nested like symbols—coalesce in a captivating rhythm of contrast and cohesion. Every woven line, every deliberate asymmetry, speaks of scarcity, heritage, and the Finnish ideal of harmony between nature and design. In its execution, one finds not only a celebration of geometry but also a meditation on the spiritual balance between chaos and order. Woven during the golden age of Finnish textile innovation, this rollakan carries the prestige of a lineage steeped in cultural preservation and aesthetic excellence. If indeed born from the looms of Suomen Kästyön Ystävät—founded in 1879 to preserve and promote native craft traditions—this rug holds even greater historic gravity. In Sotavalta’s hands, the vernacular of folk weaving is elevated to a form of modernist expressionism, quietly rebellious yet enduringly elegant. To own such a textile is to acquire a fragment of cultural diplomacy—an artifact of Finland’s design awakening. This is not a rug for the ordinary space. It is a curated heirloom, suited to interiors that speak the language of quiet luxury and thoughtful design. It offers not only visual distinction but symbolic value—a testament to ethical craftsmanship, cultural stewardship, and the timeless pursuit of beauty. In a world of mass production, this rug is an exceptional artifact of social good and storied artistry, destined for those who collect not just with their eyes, but with their ideals. Rendered in variegated shades of brick red, mauve, brown, pink, orange, and tan with other accent colors. Impi Sotavalta. Possibly produced by Suomen Kasityon Ystavat...

A feat of balance & harmony, a 5x10 antique tribal rug of the Russian Shirvan lineage boasting an intricate all over geometric pattern in a whimsical colorplay of red, black, blue—deliciously accented by crisp white for dextrous highlight in caucasian rug aesthetics. A 1920s piece, prevailing in great condition, a tasteful choice for a collector’s treasure chest. Near gallery size in its versatile, vast design appeal, and especially well suited to country homes. Connoisseurs may note an intriguing, if not exemplary variety of celebrated motifs complementing the lozenge diamond medallions patterns...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

A fine quality Early 20th-century wide Turkish runner with a floral motif in warm colors Measures: 4'5” x 10'10”.

Beautiful long European style Algerian rug with nice colors and patterns very decorative with a curious design showing Santa Claus on each detail design, a...

Up for sale is an Antique Khotan Samarkand Rug, from Uzbekistan, circa the 1900s.

Turkish rugs (also referred to as Anatolian rugs) are, arguably, the rugs that started it all. These carpets were among the first wave of Oriental antique carpets to be exported into Europe. The vintage Turkish rugs were prized commodities and artistically influential pieces. The designs of Turkish rugs such as the iconic guls, prayer rugs and small repeating patterns found on these carpets, worked their way into the iconic paintings of the European masters, including Memling, Lotto, Bellini, Hans Holbein and many others. These painters were inspired so much by Turkish rugs and the design motifs they feature that the artists have lent their names to some of these famous Turkish patterns. One of the most famous artists that incorporated rugs from Turkey in his painting was the great and iconic 16th century painter Hans Holbein. The styles of Turkish rugs...

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Roses of Karabagh rug. Realistically drawn floral designs in Karabagh, Armenia can be traced back to imperial Russian heritage of this prolific weaving region. This small rug is a pa...

Antique Malayer Rug 4.9 X 3.5 , handmade and hand-knotted, tribal rug , Wool on cotton foundation, authentic Persian Carpet

78942 Antique Caucasian Soumak Rug, 03'01 x 04'02. This enchanting handwoven wool antique Caucasian Soumak rug is a tableau of symbolic artistry and masterful weaving, steeped in the...

Antique Handmade Samarkand Rug 8'6'' x 5'3''

51170 Antique Russian Karabagh Square Rug with Traditional Modern Style. This hand-knotted wool antique Russian Karabagh rug features a striking all-over geometric pattern enclosing ...

21th Century Authentic Savonnerie Area Rug 10'0" X 8'0", handmade and hand-knotted, wool on cotton foundation, reproduction

This traditional handwoven Swedish flat-weave has an overall field of blue, grey and beige striae with alternating rows of waving diagonal lozenges, in an unusual playful striped bor...

Rare Fine Antique Shirvan Caucasian Rug Navy Blue 4'10" x 6'9" Circa 1930 "This is an extremely rare, fine Antique rug from 1920. It has a ...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Needlepoint rugs were created using the traditional needlework weaving technique that is used to make everyday items from furniture to carpets and artwork. However, it has a fascinat...

78186 antique Caucasian Rose Karabakh Hallway Runner, 03'10 x 16'00. This hand-knotted wool antique Caucasian Karabakh carpet runner is poised to impress with its effortless beauty and vibrant colors. The abrashed field displays features an all-over rose and floral pattern. It is enclosed with a stylized botanical border flanked with an inner and outer running water guard border. ?Perfect for a hallway, long entry, grand foyer, designer entryway, galley kitchen, corridor, long stair landing, grand parlor, home office, private library, conservatory, wine cellar, executive suite, theater room, billiards room, game room, bedroom, study, studio, sitting room, sunroom or it would make a lovely accent next to a buffet in a dining room, behind the sofa table in the living room, or by a long vestibule in a hotel lobby. Well-suited for a wide range of interior styles: English Chintz, Victorian, English Manor House, Tudor, Swedish Farmhouse, Southern Living, gypsy, jet-setter, Rustic, Traditional, Artisan, English Country, London Proper, Georgian, Arts & Crafts, Neoclassical, Gustavian, Cabin, Lodge, Industrial, Old World, Regency, European Cottage, Bungalow, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Eclectic, Modern, and Contemporary. Whether its placed in a country cabin, rustic farmhouse or Bohemian abode, this Caucasian floral rug will complement nearly any interior with panache. Flaunt your florals and celebrate the beauty of a rose garden in bloom all year. Similar to: Bessarabian Rose...

Soumak rugs (also spelled Sumak) – This construction technique produces a flat-weave rug that is thick, strong and exceptionally durable. Unlike kilims, Soumak rugs are not reversibl...

Discover the timeless elegance of a charming early 20th-century Karabagh rug. Immerse yourself in its exquisite decorative design and vibrant colors – from the rich dark brown backdr...

This vintage hand-woven Swedish Deco rug has a polychrome field of concentric whimsical complementary geometric panels separated by buoyant geometric stripes. Signed by the original ...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug 9'7'' X 5'3'', tribal and traditional, antique and vintage, wool on cotton foundation

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Baluch Rugs – Antique Baluch rugs are a unique phenomenon in the world of antique Oriental rugs. Rather than originating from one specific, easily identified region, Baluch rugs are ...

Needlepoint rugs were created using the traditional needlework weaving technique that is used to make everyday items from furniture to carpets and artwork. However, it has a fascinat...

Antique rugs that are called “Kilim rugs”, primarily refer to a type of flat weave rug that was produced without knotted pile. Because these antique rugs are found across the globe, ...

Sarouk Rugs– The thickness of the luxurious pile allows Sarouk rugs to withstand the level of foot traffic that would be typical in hallways, common rooms and foyers. The style, qual...

Antique Chinese Rugs, as opposed to most of the antique rug productions, were woven almost exclusively for internal consumption. Since they were mostly sheltered from European and We...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Samarkand Tribe Rug 12'9'' X 6'7''

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims were woven around the mid to late 19th century, though some do date back to the 18th century as well. This production that carried into the early twentieth century under late Ottoman Turkish rule in an area corresponding to modern Bulgaria and Romania, they stand right on the cusp of European and Oriental carpet weaving. Many of the designs are floral patterns made in a naturalistic western style utilizing brown or black ground, not unlike certain Karabaghs from the Caucauses. But others, particularly flat weaves, reflect the tradition of Turkish kilims from nearby Anatolia, although in a distinctive Bessarbian palette. In either case they are supremely decorative rugs. History Of Antique Flat Woven Bessarabian Kilim Rugs from Romania Bessarabian Kilims and carpets are flat woven rugs that originate in the Russian provinces of the Ukraine and Moldova in the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. While most carpet experts will classify the flat woven rugs as Bessarabian they will often refer to the knotted pile carpets as Ukrainian. The Bessarabian carpets differ from antique Persian carpets in many ways. For example, unlike Persian carpets, Bessarabian rugs cannot be classified to a region according to the way the rugs were woven. Their weaves provide indications regarding the area for which they were created rather than for their classification. The markets these antique rugs were designed for could have fallen into different categories such as a rural market or an urban one. But all other attributes were dismissed and all the Romani made area rugs and carpets are referred to as Bessarabian instead. Antique Romanian Bessarabian kilims are ornate and they come in a variety of designs as well color combinations. It’s not uncommon for some Bessarabian kilims to be more floral while others may feature more geometric patterns. Bessarabian carpets are made on carpet weaving looms similar to the ones used to make the French Aubusson rugs. These looms are wooden, and the rugs are flat woven / kilims. The best of these rug types were created in the 1700’s. The Russian Imperial Tapestry Factory was where these Romanian rugs were made, and the factory was created by none other than Peter the Great. He established the Russian Imperial Tapestry Factory following his return from England and France. He was inspired to create the factory after being in awe of the splendid Aubusson carpets, Savonnerie rugs, and Axminster carpets he saw while abroad. The beautiful carpets he admired while in Europe had already caught the eyes of his Russian contemporaries, and importing them was triggering a financial drain for the Russian treasury. For this reason, the Russian Imperial Tapestry Factory was used as a location for copying the French and English carpets Peter the Great and the Russian nobility desired. Demand for these lavishly luxurious rugs grew, and additional factories were created in villages. This region is from where these rugs got the name Bessarabian. The region is divided between two territories: the Republic of Moldova and Romania. Bessarabian rug weavers were country people who had a country taste. Though they were tasked with replicating the elaborate motifs of the European rugs, they added their own unique country’s flair to their borrowed rug patterns and designs. This more folksy or traditional approach to the European patterns...

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

oumak rugs (also spelled Sumak) – This construction technique produces a flat-weave rug that is thick, strong and exceptionally durable. Unlike kilims, Soumak rugs are not reversible...

This is a small antique silk Chinese textile woven during the beginning of the 20th century circa 1900 and measures 50 x 47CM in size. Its design is centered around a man that is hol...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...