American Empire Rugs and Carpets

This beautiful Mid-Century rug rests on a saturated yellow background with brilliant accent colors. The design consists of intertwined threads running along the length of the piece, ...

Antique Persian Shahsevan Mafrash Panel, 19th Century (4th Quarter) This mafrash end panel combines bold graphics and color. Classic Shahsevan design elements are represented from t...

This exquisite square cushion will suit any decor with its neutral tones and refined allure. Padded with polyester fiber, the velvet removable cover boasts an elegant light pink...

Hand sewn ball pillow is made in a soft light sage velvet fabric by Kravet firmly stuffed with down feathers. Can be customized in any fabric and size adjustments. Ask for current av...

Alexander McQueen Military Brocade Palatial Rug, Gold, Ivory, Silk, Wool, 2012. Extremely rare 18’7” x 12’ size. Limited edition gold on ivo...

LO DECOR happy linen pillow the perfect accent piece for an easy style update, this cushion makes a chic accent for any well-decorated home, adding charm to a bed, sofa, or your favo...

An antique American Hook Rug handmade during the Early 20th century. Measures: 3' 4" x 4' 7"

A vintage American Braid round/circular accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 7' 1" x 7' 1".

A vintage American Braided oval room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 9' 5" x 12' 3" North American has never developed a unified handmade rug tradition, but rather it is the unassimilated confluence of several. From Mexico comes the Saltillo serape wearing blanket, and this stimulates the Navajo and Rio Grande (Colorado) weavers, first as blankets, then as rugs. The thrifty habits of rural America gave rise to the New England (and Western Canadian) hooked rug types, while the farmers of the Midwest recycled their disused garments into braided and rag rugs. The closest to a real ongoing tradition are the Southwestern (New Mexican) Navajo rugs. By the 1860’s the native tribes were weaving wearing blankets with wool from the Spanish churro sheep. These were in stripe design, with combinations of undyed wool with cochineal reds and indigo blues. The multi-phase “Chief’s Blankets” from the 1870’s-80’s are a natural outgrowth of these. Machine spun red wool from Germantown in Pennsylvania appeared in the 1870’s with a bright red hitherto unobtainable. The weavers loved it and blankets appeared with bright reds, generally aniline, in “eye dazzler” patterns. Anglo traders established posts beginning in the 1890’s. Navajo weavings were perfect accompaniments not only for Western-themed decors, but for East Coast apartments, only they needed to be thicker and more rug like to be truly accepted. The traders brought Caucasian and Turkish village rugs to copy, borders were introduced and central medallions devised. The weavers continued to create on vertical looms, with a shared warp (dovetailing) weft structure to avoid slits. The warps were cotton string. Sizes were generally scatters, but occasionally a special order came in, hence antique room size Navajos are very rare and very pricey. Distinct village/pueblo styles developed. Among the best are: Two Grey Hills (considered the tightest, closest of all Navajo weaving), Crystal Springs and Ganado. Certain new patterns such as the “Storm pattern” with jagged lightning bolts emanating from a dark cloud developed. The Yei rug with dancing Kachina doll figures became popular. The palette has been expanded beyond the classic grey, tan, dark brown and cream natural wool combination to again include reds, blue and greens. Navajo pictorials include: American flags, trains and automobiles, domestic and local scenes and scenery. Individual artist weavers now command gallery shows and correspondingly elevated prices. There are several levels of Navajo work, and antique and vintage scatters with simple flat designs, medium weaves and tritonal palettes, and in good floor worthy condition are still available reasonably. The Native American weaving tradition extends into Colorado with two piece scatters with sharp sawtooth medallions and striped end borders, with wool tapestry weave on cotton warps. These descend from the Saltillo blankets...

Monumental 19th American hooked rug mounted as a wall hanging.

A vintage American Braided carpet from the second quarter of the 20th century. Although America (British-America) has been producing rugs since the 16th century it was never industrialized at the time. Colonial America had been importing European rugs through England. However, tariffs after the Revolutionary War concluded the importation business. The American rug industry boomed during the third quarter of the 19th century. What started off as a makeshift homemade project by women in the late 16th to early 17th century, braiding scrap clothing and fabrics to provide warmth and a feeling of protection for homes had now become popularized in American fashion, design, and trade. Vintage American Braided rugs...

An antique American Hook Rug handmade during the Early 20th century. Measures: 2' 11" x 4' 10"