Nepalese Geometric Contemporary Oriental

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

Antique and vintage Chinese and East Asian rugs and carpets often include images of trees, animals and abstract forms. A colorful carpet offers a focal point for conversation and curiosity.

China has a long history of rug making. Some Chinese carpets date back thousands of years. Many designs resemble delicate Chinese porcelain, such as those with depictions of vines, plants and flowers. Others are pictorial with mythical creatures, local animals and people, while others have shape-based designs featuring lovely geometric patterns.

Small prayer rugs or larger pieces with audacious patterns and colors can be a meaningful part of any collection. Neutral-toned rugs predominated interior design for a while, but bolder is better. Through fine materials and vibrant hues, one is drawn into the stories of beautifully woven rugs from China and East Asia.

Wool, silk and chinoiserie rugs add grace to rooms by contrasting or complementing antiques and modern furniture. By pairing Chinese rugs from the 1960s with your mid-century modern credenza or coffee table, you can create a synthesis of modern American design with a sensibility toward materials more commonly associated with an Asian tradition of craft.

Explore the beauty of antique and vintage Chinese and East Asian rugs and carpets through an extensive collection on 1stDibs. Find the perfect floor covering for your home, office or other space.