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Middle of the 19th Century Colorful Caucasian Shirvan Runner
Middle of the 19th Century Colorful Caucasian Shirvan Runner

Middle of the 19th Century Colorful Caucasian Shirvan Runner

Located in Sultanahmet, 34

This antique Shirvan runner dates from the mid-19th century and is a rare piece reflecting the rich weaving tradition of the Caucasus.

Category

Mid-19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Long Indo Kashan Antique Runner, 2'9'' x 21'3''
Zabihi Collection Long Indo Kashan Antique Runner, 2'9'' x 21'3''

Zabihi Collection Long Indo Kashan Antique Runner, 2'9'' x 21'3''

Located in New York, NY

an early 20th Century Indo Kashan Runner in rich plum, green, magenta tones. areas of wear in middle of the rug. otherwise nice soft plush pile throughout Details rug no. j4483 size...

Category

Early 20th Century Indian Country Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Distressed Khotan Runner Pomegranates & Vinery in Green - Rug & Kilim
Antique Distressed Khotan Runner Pomegranates & Vinery in Green - Rug & Kilim

Antique Distressed Khotan Runner Pomegranates & Vinery in Green - Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

Hand-knotted in wool circa 1910-1919, this 9x17 antique East Turkestan Khotan runner is a regal addition to Rug & Kilim's collection.

Category

1910s East Turkestani Khotan Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Fine Antique Turkish Short Wool Runner 2'11" x 5’10"
Fine Antique Turkish Short Wool Runner 2'11" x 5’10"

Fine Antique Turkish Short Wool Runner 2'11" x 5’10"

Located in New York, NY

Fine Antique Turkish Short Wool Runner 2'11" x 5’10". The carpets, scatters, runners, long rugs and bags of the towns, villages and tribes of Anatolia, including: Oushak, Ghiordes, K...

Category

Late 19th Century Turkish Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Early 20th Century Taupe French Aubusson Carpet Runner
Early 20th Century Taupe French Aubusson Carpet Runner

Early 20th Century Taupe French Aubusson Carpet Runner

Located in New York, NY

Early 20th Century Taupe French Aubusson Carpet Runner France, circa 1920 A refined carpet featuring a central panel of repeating gold lattice motifs set within a warm beige field, ...

Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Rug Flemish Fragment Tapestry Runner Aubusson Rugs
Antique Rug Flemish Fragment Tapestry Runner Aubusson Rugs

Antique Rug Flemish Fragment Tapestry Runner Aubusson Rugs

Located in Wembley, GB

Measures: 17 x 114cm Antique rug Flemish fragment tapestry runner.   

Category

1880s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Antique Runners

Materials

Organic Material, Cotton, Wool

Soulful Nomadic Antique Kurdish Runner with Mystical Animals
Soulful Nomadic Antique Kurdish Runner with Mystical Animals

Soulful Nomadic Antique Kurdish Runner with Mystical Animals

Located in Milwaukee, WI

Uma Soulful Nomadic Antique Runner About: How can a piece get so soulful? What makes a rug endlessly gorgeous?

Category

1910s Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Wool Chocolate-Brown Traditional Floral Vine Caucasus Runner
Antique Wool Chocolate-Brown Traditional Floral Vine Caucasus Runner

Antique Wool Chocolate-Brown Traditional Floral Vine Caucasus Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique Karabagh runner has a shaded chocolate-brown field with a buff-brown and dusty-pink scrolling floral vine around a column of lozenges with minor lozenges above and to th...

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Authentic Antique Seven Red and Blue Panels Turkish Runner
Authentic Antique Seven Red and Blue Panels Turkish Runner

Authentic Antique Seven Red and Blue Panels Turkish Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique Turkish runner features a field with seven brick-red and sky-blue panels each containing a central polychrome hooked lozenge with a central panel and hooked minor lozeng...

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Karabagh Handmade Designed Wool Runner In Brown
Antique Karabagh Handmade Designed Wool Runner In Brown

Antique Karabagh Handmade Designed Wool Runner In Brown

Located in Norwalk, CT

This is a stunning antique Karabagh hand-knotted wool rug featuring a brown field. It showcases beautiful beige and gray accents in a captivating geometric tribal design. This rug m...

Category

1890s Turkish Aubusson Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Early 20th Century Wool Brown Floral Khotan Runner
Antique Early 20th Century Wool Brown Floral Khotan Runner

Antique Early 20th Century Wool Brown Floral Khotan Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique Khotan runner features a brown field with a column of seven linked lozenges each containing a mole-grey lozenge scattered with floral motifs around a central buff-brown ...

Category

Early 20th Century East Turkestani Khotan Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Bobyrug’s Very Beautiful Antique Kurdish Caucasian Style Runner
Bobyrug’s Very Beautiful Antique Kurdish Caucasian Style Runner

Bobyrug’s Very Beautiful Antique Kurdish Caucasian Style Runner

Located in Saint Ouen, FR

Beautiful early 20th century Kurdish Caucasian runner with nice geometrical Kazak design and beautiful colors with dark blue, light blue, pink grey and green, entirely hand knotted w...

Category

Early 20th Century Kazakhstani Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Folk Art Ivory and Brown Medallion Wool Runner 3'5''x11'3''
Folk Art Ivory and Brown Medallion Wool Runner 3'5''x11'3''

Folk Art Ivory and Brown Medallion Wool Runner 3'5''x11'3''

By Amara Rugs

Located in Torrance, CA

Hand-knotted using natural wool, this runner embodies both rustic charm and mid-century tribal modernism.

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Hand Knotted Late 19th Century Wool Floral Karabagh Runner
Hand Knotted Late 19th Century Wool Floral Karabagh Runner

Hand Knotted Late 19th Century Wool Floral Karabagh Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This late 19th century Karabagh runner has a chocolate-brown field with an overall design of buff-brown dense floral and leafy vine, outer buff-brown narrow stripe.

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

35" x 80" Antique Caucasian Daghestan Runner Rug
35" x 80" Antique Caucasian Daghestan Runner Rug

35" x 80" Antique Caucasian Daghestan Runner Rug

Located in Spring Valley, NY

A mid-19th century North East Caucasian rug with a sought after yellow field and beautifully saturated natural dyes. Medium wool pile on wool foundation. Very good condition. Sturdy ...

Category

Mid-19th Century Caucasian Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Circa 1900 Tan Caucasian Subdued Karabagh Rug Runner
Antique Circa 1900 Tan Caucasian Subdued Karabagh Rug Runner

Antique Circa 1900 Tan Caucasian Subdued Karabagh Rug Runner

Located in New York, NY

Across the Aras river from Karajeh is the Armenian Caucasian rug area of Karabagh (Black Garden) which wove scatters, runners and gallery rugs from the 17th century onwards, often wi...

Category

19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Circa-1900 Handwoven Stylized Floral Indian Agra Runner
Antique Circa-1900 Handwoven Stylized Floral Indian Agra Runner

Antique Circa-1900 Handwoven Stylized Floral Indian Agra Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Pair with runner SKU 10391 Agra rugs, originating from the city of Agra in northern India, are renowned for their intricate designs and high-quality craftsmanship.

Category

Early 19th Century Indian Agra Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Handwoven Antique Circa-1900 Stylized Floral Indian Agra Runner
Handwoven Antique Circa-1900 Stylized Floral Indian Agra Runner

Handwoven Antique Circa-1900 Stylized Floral Indian Agra Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Pair with runner SKU 10392 Agra rugs, originating from the city of Agra in northern India, are renowned for their intricate designs and high-quality craftsmanship.

Category

Early 19th Century Indian Agra Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

1880s Blue Floral Antique Imperial Traditional Chinese Peking Rug Knotted Runner
1880s Blue Floral Antique Imperial Traditional Chinese Peking Rug Knotted Runner

1880s Blue Floral Antique Imperial Traditional Chinese Peking Rug Knotted Runner

Located in New York, NY

Antique Peking Long Hallway Runner Wool Blue Rug, Circa Date: 1880s. This exceptional Chinese runner exemplifies the refined aesthetic of late 19th-century Peking weaving.

Category

1880s Chinese Other Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Handmade Carpet Antique Wool Runner Rug Traditional Tribal Rug
Handmade Carpet Antique Wool Runner Rug Traditional Tribal Rug

Handmade Carpet Antique Wool Runner Rug Traditional Tribal Rug

Located in Wembley, GB

This antique rug runner fine wool runner rug is a handmade vintage piece featuring a tribal design.

Category

1890s Iraqi Tribal Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Organic Material, Natural Fiber, Cotton

Antique Hand-woven Wool Floral Herati Karabagh Runner
Antique Hand-woven Wool Floral Herati Karabagh Runner

Antique Hand-woven Wool Floral Herati Karabagh Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This traditional hand-woven Karabagh rug has a dusty pistachio gray field with an overall polychrome herati field, in a rust stylized geometric floral vine border enclosed by narrow ...

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Late 19th Century Floral Wool Hand-Woven Karabagh Runner
Late 19th Century Floral Wool Hand-Woven Karabagh Runner

Late 19th Century Floral Wool Hand-Woven Karabagh Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This traditional handwoven Persian Karabagh rug has a deep umber field with broad sweeping palmettes issuing angled floral geometric vine lattice, in a dusty peach angled floral vine...

Category

Late 19th Century Armenian Other Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Early 20th Century
Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Early 20th Century

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Early 20th Century

Located in Sultanahmet, 34

Ultimately this highly decorative runner stands as a premier example of woven art representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global collectors.

Category

Early 20th Century Azerbaijani Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Shahsavan Tribal Kilim Runner Rug with Eye-Dazzler Design
Antique Shahsavan Tribal Kilim Runner Rug with Eye-Dazzler Design

Antique Shahsavan Tribal Kilim Runner Rug with Eye-Dazzler Design

Located in Milan, IT

The flat-weaves from this area are distinguished by a very sturdy texture, rendering them ideal as runners for areas of high foot traffic. The eye-dazzler pattern of this example is ...

Category

Early 20th Century Azerbaijani Kilim Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century
Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century

Located in Sultanahmet, 34

Ultimately this highly decorative runner stands as a premier example of woven art representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global collectors.

Category

Late 19th Century Azerbaijani Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Early 20th Century
Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Early 20th Century

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Early 20th Century

Located in Sultanahmet, 34

this rare early 20th century Antique regional workshop runner highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a spectacular, vertically aligned multi-medallion system anchor...

Category

Early 20th Century Azerbaijani Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Early 20th Century Caucasus Tribal Medallion Runner in Warm Indigo & Rusts
Early 20th Century Caucasus Tribal Medallion Runner in Warm Indigo & Rusts

Early 20th Century Caucasus Tribal Medallion Runner in Warm Indigo & Rusts

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

Rare antique Caucasus runner in natural dyes with Aztec like geometric medallions and structures.

Category

Early 20th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Orange and Pink Osuhak Wool Runner 4'11''x22'4''
Antique Orange and Pink Osuhak Wool Runner 4'11''x22'4''

Antique Orange and Pink Osuhak Wool Runner 4'11''x22'4''

By Amara Rugs

Located in Torrance, CA

This exceptional hand-knotted wool runner is a rare and highly desirable piece for long corridors, gallery walls, or open-plan interiors.

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Oushak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Kerman Lavar Rug, Extra-Long Runner with Florals - Rug & Kilim
Antique Kerman Lavar Rug, Extra-Long Runner with Florals - Rug & Kilim

Antique Kerman Lavar Rug, Extra-Long Runner with Florals - Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

Condition: This antique Kerman Lavar runner rug further enjoys good condition for its age and lineage.

Category

1890s Turkish Art Deco Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Turkoman Runner with Repeating Gul Pattern in Deep Red
Antique Turkoman Runner with Repeating Gul Pattern in Deep Red

Antique Turkoman Runner with Repeating Gul Pattern in Deep Red

Located in New York, NY

This striking antique Turkoman runner features a classic allover field of repeating gül motifs arranged in precise horizontal rows, a hallmark of Central Asian tribal weaving.

Category

Early 20th Century Turkmen Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Geometric Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century
Antique Geometric Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century

Antique Geometric Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century

Located in Sultanahmet, 34

Ultimately this highly decorative runner stands as a premier example of woven art representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global collectors.

Category

Late 19th Century Azerbaijani Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century
Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century

Antique Floral Design Hand Woven Wool Runner - Late 19th Century

Located in Sultanahmet, 34

Ultimately this highly decorative runner stands as a premier example of woven art representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global collectors.

Category

Late 19th Century Azerbaijani Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Doris Leslie Blau Antique Indian Amritsar Botanical Wool Runner
Doris Leslie Blau Antique Indian Amritsar Botanical Wool Runner

Doris Leslie Blau Antique Indian Amritsar Botanical Wool Runner

Located in New York, NY

Antique Indian Amritsar Botanical Wool Runner Size: 3'0" × 22'9" (91 × 693 cm) This exquisite antique runner from the famed weaving center of Amritsar, India, circa 1900, is a master...

Category

Early 20th Century Indian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

1920s Ivory Antique Traditional Landscape Chinese Baotou Hallway Runner Wool Rug
1920s Ivory Antique Traditional Landscape Chinese Baotou Hallway Runner Wool Rug

1920s Ivory Antique Traditional Landscape Chinese Baotou Hallway Runner Wool Rug

Located in New York, NY

Antique Chinese - Baotou Hallway Runner Wool Ivory Rug, Circa Date: 1920s. This exceptional Baotou piece from the Republican period presents a rare, deeply narrative composition.

Category

1920s Chinese Other Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Vintage Tuareg Runner Mat, Brown and Beige Striped Patterns - Rug & Kilim
Vintage Tuareg Runner Mat, Brown and Beige Striped Patterns - Rug & Kilim

Vintage Tuareg Runner Mat, Brown and Beige Striped Patterns - Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

This vintage runner rug and floor covering is a 3x15 Tuareg mat from the nomadic tribe of the same name.

Category

1850s Mauritanian Antique Runners

Materials

Leather, Reed

1900s Antique Karabagh Floral Medallion Runner Rug – 16' x 4'1"
1900s Antique Karabagh Floral Medallion Runner Rug – 16' x 4'1"

1900s Antique Karabagh Floral Medallion Runner Rug – 16' x 4'1"

Located in Los Angeles, US

This impressive antique Karabagh gallery rug, measuring approximately 16' x 4'1" (192 x 49 inches), presents a dramatic and highly decorative composition built around a succession of...

Category

Early 1900s Caucasian Other Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Middle of the 19th Century Colorful Caucasian Shirvan Runner
Middle of the 19th Century Colorful Caucasian Shirvan Runner

Middle of the 19th Century Colorful Caucasian Shirvan Runner

Located in Sultanahmet, 34

This magnificent 19th century Caucasian Shirvan runner is a work of art that reflects the unique art of weaving masters.

Category

Mid-19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

2'2"x13'1" Red, Antique Zoroastrian Sarouk, Hand Knotted, Wool Runner Rug
2'2"x13'1" Red, Antique Zoroastrian Sarouk, Hand Knotted, Wool Runner Rug

2'2"x13'1" Red, Antique Zoroastrian Sarouk, Hand Knotted, Wool Runner Rug

Located in Carlstadt, NJ

Imperial Red, Antique Zoroastrian Sarouk, Even Wear, Hand Knotted, Clean, Pure Wool, Sides and Ends Professionally Secured, Runner Oriental Rug Primary materials: Wool Latex: No Pile...

Category

1920s Turkish Bohemian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

1920s Antique Blue Medallion Deco Peking Chinese Wool Hallway Runner Rug
1920s Antique Blue Medallion Deco Peking Chinese Wool Hallway Runner Rug

1920s Antique Blue Medallion Deco Peking Chinese Wool Hallway Runner Rug

Located in New York, NY

1920s Antique Blue Peking Chinese Wool Hallway Runner Rug, Circa Date: 1920s. This exquisite example of early 20th-century craftsmanship belongs to our curated collection of antique ...

Category

1920s Chinese Art Deco Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Oversized Handwoven Antique Indigo-Blue Floral Indian Agra Runner
Oversized Handwoven Antique Indigo-Blue Floral Indian Agra Runner

Oversized Handwoven Antique Indigo-Blue Floral Indian Agra Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique, circa 1900, Agra runner has an indigo-blue field with an overall dense rich-red, sandy-yellow, light blue, dusty-pink and sea-green palmette and floral vine, in a narro...

Category

Early 20th Century Indian Agra Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Vintage American Rag Runner, Handwoven Rainbow Stripe Pattern, 2’ x 14’
Vintage American Rag Runner, Handwoven Rainbow Stripe Pattern, 2’ x 14’

Vintage American Rag Runner, Handwoven Rainbow Stripe Pattern, 2’ x 14’

Located in Barrington, IL

This vintage American rag runner features a warm taupe (straw-toned) field accented by a vibrant rainbow stripe pattern running through the center.

Category

Early 20th Century American Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Galerie Shabab Collection Early 20th Century East Turkestan Samarkand Runner
Galerie Shabab Collection Early 20th Century East Turkestan Samarkand Runner

Galerie Shabab Collection Early 20th Century East Turkestan Samarkand Runner

Located in New York, NY

The measured repetition of panels, combined with the refined, understated coloration, gives this runner a quiet elegance characteristic of Samarkand weaving traditions.

Category

Early 20th Century East Turkestani Rustic Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Circa-1890 Tomato-Red Floral Anatolian Oushak Runner
Antique Circa-1890 Tomato-Red Floral Anatolian Oushak Runner

Antique Circa-1890 Tomato-Red Floral Anatolian Oushak Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique, circa 1890, Oushak runner has a tomato-red field with a central column of linked polychrome palmettes issuing to each side polychrome larger flowerheads with an outer b...

Category

Late 19th Century Turkish Oushak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Authentic Antique Hand-woven Royal-Blue Pomegranate Khotan Runner
Authentic Antique Hand-woven Royal-Blue Pomegranate Khotan Runner

Authentic Antique Hand-woven Royal-Blue Pomegranate Khotan Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique, circa 1890, Khotan runner features a shaded royal-blue field with an overall design of bold ivory and soft-terracotta pomegranate and leafy vine, in a mole-brown border...

Category

Late 19th Century East Turkestani Khotan Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Hand-Knotted Karabagh Runner, Wool, Caucasus, Circa 1900
Antique Hand-Knotted Karabagh Runner, Wool, Caucasus, Circa 1900

Antique Hand-Knotted Karabagh Runner, Wool, Caucasus, Circa 1900

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique, circa 1900, Karabagh runner has a charcoal-blue field with a central column of ivory and brick-red cusped lozenges alternating with fox-brown lozenges each containing a...

Category

Early 20th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Doris Leslie Blau Antique William Morris Botanical Fragment Runner
Doris Leslie Blau Antique William Morris Botanical Fragment Runner

Doris Leslie Blau Antique William Morris Botanical Fragment Runner

By William Morris (English)

Located in New York, NY

Antique William Morris Botanical Fragment Runner Size: 3'6" × 22'7" (106 × 688 cm) This exquisite antique runner, originating from early 20th-century Europe, is a rare and captivatin...

Category

Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Sauj Bulaj Runner Rug, Beige-Brown with Florals - Rug & Kilim
Antique Sauj Bulaj Runner Rug, Beige-Brown with Florals - Rug & Kilim

Antique Sauj Bulaj Runner Rug, Beige-Brown with Florals - Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

Hand-knotted in wool and originating circa 1880-1890, this 4x10 antique runner rug of the Sauj Bulaj provenance is a grand new addition to Rug & Kilim’s curation of rare, collectible...

Category

1880s Turkish Art Deco Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

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Antique Runners For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of antique runners is available at 1stDibs. Each of these unique antique runners was constructed with extraordinary care, often using fabric, wool and cotton. Antique runners have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique runners made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — are very popular at 1stDibs. Many antique runners are appealing in their simplicity, but Mehraban Rugs, William Morris (English) and Hadji Jalili produced popular antique runners that are worth a look.

How Much are Antique Runners?

Prices for antique runners can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, antique runners begin at $120 and can go as high as $180,000, while the average can fetch as much as $4,987.

Finding the Right Rugs-carpets for You

Good antique rugs and vintage rugs have made their way into homes across the globe, becoming fixtures used for comfort, prayer and self-expression, so choosing the right area rug is officially a universal endeavor.

In modern usage, “carpet” typically denotes a wall-to-wall floor cushioning that is fixed to the floor. Rugs, on the other hand, are designed to cover a specific area and can easily be moved to new locations. However, the terms are interchangeable in many parts of the world, and, in the end, it won’t matter what you decide to call it.

It’s well known that a timeless Persian rug or vintage Turkish rug can warm any interior, but there are lots of other styles of antique rugs to choose from when you're endeavoring to introduce fresh colors and textures to a bedroom or living room.

Moroccan Berber rugs are not all about pattern. In fact, some of the most striking examples are nearly monochrome. But what these rugs lack in complexity, they make up for in brilliant color and subtle variation. Moroccan-style interiors can be mesmerizing — a sitting room of this type might feature a Moroccan rug, carved wooden screens and a tapestry hung behind the sofa.

Handwoven kilim rugs, known for their wealth of rich colors and unique weaving tradition, are pileless: Whereas the Beni Ourain rugs of Morocco can be described as dense with a thick surface or pile, an authentic kilim rug is thin and flat. (The term “kilim” is Turkish in origin, but this type of textile artistry is practiced all across the Balkans, throughout the Arab world and elsewhere.) 

When it comes to eye-catching floor coverings, the distinctive “medallion” pattern of Oushak rugs has two types of rounded shapes alternating against a rich red or blue background created with natural dyes, while the elaborate “star” pattern involves large eight-pointed shapes in diagonal rows alternating with diamonds.  

If you’re looking for something unexpected, find a runner rug that pops in your hallway or on your stairs. Dig for dazzling geometric patterns in our inventory of mid-century modern rugs and carpets, which includes works designed by the likes of Swedish textile masters Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Marianne Richter and other artisans. 

Carpets and rugs have been around for thousands of years. Prehistoric humans turned to animal skin, wool and fur to craft simple fabrics to soften hard terrain. A 2016 study suggests that "cave lions" were hunted for exactly this purpose, and that decorating your cave with their pelts may have conferred strength and prestige. Although many of these early textiles are still in existence, tracing their precise origins is difficult. Carpets quickly became such a valuable trade commodity that the weavings could easily travel far from their places of origin. 

The oldest known carpet was found in southern Siberia. (It may have traveled there from Persepolis in Iran.) For the flat-weave floor rugs crafted by Native Americans, cotton was the primary material before sheep’s wool was introduced in the 16th century. In Europe, carpet-making was fundamental to folk art, and Asian carpets imported to European countries were at one time considered a precious luxury and not intended to remain permanently on the floor. 

With the variety of area rugs and carpets rolled out for you on 1stDibs — a collection that includes traditional, modern, minimalist rugs and other coverings of all kinds — things will be looking up whenever you’re looking down. 

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