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Antique Runners

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2'3"x8'6" Blue Antique North West Zoroastrian Hand Knotted Pure Wool Runner Rug
2'3"x8'6" Blue Antique North West Zoroastrian Hand Knotted Pure Wool Runner Rug

2'3"x8'6" Blue Antique North West Zoroastrian Hand Knotted Pure Wool Runner Rug

Located in Carlstadt, NJ

Pageant Blue, Antique North West Zoroastrian, Geometric Pattern, Good Condition, Clean, 100% Wool, Hand Knotted, Narrow Runner, Oriental Rug Primary materials: Wool Latex: No Pile h...

Category

1920s Pakistani Tribal Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Agra Runner Gold Brown Geometric Fragment Rug by Rug & Kilim
Antique Agra Runner Gold Brown Geometric Fragment Rug by Rug & Kilim

Antique Agra Runner Gold Brown Geometric Fragment Rug by Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

We’re especially very proud of our vintage Kilims and Turkish rugs curated for our expansive collection of both area rugs and runners alike.  

Category

1890s Indian Tribal Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Vintage Circa-1938 Hand-woven Charcoal-Black and Pink Trellis Karabagh Runner
Vintage Circa-1938 Hand-woven Charcoal-Black and Pink Trellis Karabagh Runner

Vintage Circa-1938 Hand-woven Charcoal-Black and Pink Trellis Karabagh Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This vintage, circa 1938, Karabagh runner has a charcoal-black field with vertical rows of linked lozenge trellis together with plain terracotta-red outer stripes each lozenge contai...

Category

Early 20th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Karabagh Wool Runner In Blue and Red Designed with Tribal Pattern
Antique Karabagh Wool Runner In Blue and Red Designed with Tribal Pattern

Antique Karabagh Wool Runner In Blue and Red Designed with Tribal Pattern

Located in Norwalk, CT

This handcrafted Karabagh wool runner adds an antique touch to your decor. The perfect accent piece features a rich navy blue field and red tones of an all-over tribal motif.

Category

Early 20th Century Azerbaijani Islamic Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

3.7x9.5 Ft Antique Caucasian Kuba Runner, Top Shelf Collectors Rug. Ca 1870
3.7x9.5 Ft Antique Caucasian Kuba Runner, Top Shelf Collectors Rug. Ca 1870

3.7x9.5 Ft Antique Caucasian Kuba Runner, Top Shelf Collectors Rug. Ca 1870

Located in Spring Valley, NY

Antique Caucasian Kuba Dagestan runner. Top shelf collectors rug, circa 1870 All wool and natural dyes.

Category

1870s Caucasian Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Lori Geometric Red and Beige Wool Runner by Rug & Kilim
Antique Lori Geometric Red and Beige Wool Runner by Rug & Kilim

Antique Lori Geometric Red and Beige Wool Runner by Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

Originating from Russia in 1900, this antique geometric runner depicts a lightly distressed Lori design, complemented by a series of eight-pointed star, hook, and quarter-diamond Gul...

Category

Early 1900s European Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Circa-1900 Tomato-Red Perching Birds and Flowering Vine Karabagh Runner
Antique Circa-1900 Tomato-Red Perching Birds and Flowering Vine Karabagh Runner

Antique Circa-1900 Tomato-Red Perching Birds and Flowering Vine Karabagh Runner

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This antique, circa 1900, Karabagh runner has a tomato-red field scattered with delicate flowering vine and perching birds around a column of linked large charcoal-grey roundels each...

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

1890s Blue and Navy Antique Tribal Hand Knotted Runner Rug 3'6" x 10'6"
1890s Blue and Navy Antique Tribal Hand Knotted Runner Rug 3'6" x 10'6"

1890s Blue and Navy Antique Tribal Hand Knotted Runner Rug 3'6" x 10'6"

Located in New York, NY

Antique circa 1890 Tribal hand-knotted wool runner rug, 3'6" x 10'6" (42 x 126 in), in blue and navy tones.

Category

1890s West Asian Tribal Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Handmade Carpet Antique Rug Oriental Caucasian Kilim Rug Runner for Sale
Handmade Carpet Antique Rug Oriental Caucasian Kilim Rug Runner for Sale

Handmade Carpet Antique Rug Oriental Caucasian Kilim Rug Runner for Sale

Located in Wembley, GB

Handmade Carpet Antique Rug Oriental Caucasian Kilim Rug Runner for Sale.

Category

Early 1900s Caucasian Kilim Antique Runners

Materials

Organic Material, Cotton, Wool

Doris Leslie Blau Rare Antique 16th Century Cairene Runner (Size Adjusted)
Doris Leslie Blau Rare Antique 16th Century Cairene Runner (Size Adjusted)

Doris Leslie Blau Rare Antique 16th Century Cairene Runner (Size Adjusted)

Located in New York, NY

Rare Antique 16th Century Cairene Runner (Size Adjusted) Size: 3'0" × 13'1" (91 × 398 cm) A rare and exquisite relic from the height of Mamluk textile artistry, this 16th century Cai...

Category

16th Century Egyptian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

1930s Hand-Knotted Moroccan Carpet Runner in Red/Orange Wool
1930s Hand-Knotted Moroccan Carpet Runner in Red/Orange Wool

1930s Hand-Knotted Moroccan Carpet Runner in Red/Orange Wool

Located in Norwalk, CT

Vintage 1930s Moroccan carpet with a red field, orange and green geometric design, measure: 4.04 x 11.

Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

19th Century Bidjar Gallery Runner with Folk Art Border Design
19th Century Bidjar Gallery Runner with Folk Art Border Design

19th Century Bidjar Gallery Runner with Folk Art Border Design

Located in Dublin, NH

Bidjar carpets vary between very recognizable workshop production and interesting pieces made in smaller village workshops. This would be the latter. It is unusual to have a camel co...

Category

19th Century Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

4'1"x9'3" Yale Blue Antique Caucasian Kazak Wide Runner Hand Knotted Wool Rug
4'1"x9'3" Yale Blue Antique Caucasian Kazak Wide Runner Hand Knotted Wool Rug

4'1"x9'3" Yale Blue Antique Caucasian Kazak Wide Runner Hand Knotted Wool Rug

Located in Carlstadt, NJ

Yale Blue, Antique Caucasian Kazak, Wide Runner, Hand Knotted, 100% Wool, Oriental Rug Primary materials: Wool Latex: No Pile height: 0.25 Inches Style: Traditional Primary color: B...

Category

1890s Azerbaijani Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Oversize Circa 1900 Blue Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner 2'9 x 23'6
Antique Oversize Circa 1900 Blue Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner 2'9 x 23'6

Antique Oversize Circa 1900 Blue Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner 2'9 x 23'6

Located in New York, NY

2'9 x 23'6. Bountiful floral patterns woven in gold and soft blue play over the tan central field. A botanical pattern woven in golds with evenly spaced Persian blue medallions fills...

Category

19th Century Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Khotan Runner from Turkestan with Geometric Medallions in Red Background
Antique Khotan Runner from Turkestan with Geometric Medallions in Red Background

Antique Khotan Runner from Turkestan with Geometric Medallions in Red Background

Located in Atlanta, GA

Antique Khotan Runner from Turkestan with four geometric medallions in red and multi colors, rug tu-mtu-4648, country of origin / type: East Turkestan / Khotan, circa 1920 This geom...

Category

1920s Turkestan Khotan Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

1890s Peach Antique Chinese Peking Ningxia Runner Rug 1'6" x 4'
1890s Peach Antique Chinese Peking Ningxia Runner Rug 1'6" x 4'

1890s Peach Antique Chinese Peking Ningxia Runner Rug 1'6" x 4'

Located in New York, NY

Antique circa 1890 Chinese Qing embroidered silk runner rug, 1'6" x 4' (18 x 48 in), in peach tones.

Category

1890s Chinese Qing Antique Runners

Materials

Silk

Antique Rugs, Kazak Rug, Handmade Carpet Runner Oriental Rug from Caucasus
Antique Rugs, Kazak Rug, Handmade Carpet Runner Oriental Rug from Caucasus

Antique Rugs, Kazak Rug, Handmade Carpet Runner Oriental Rug from Caucasus

Located in Wembley, GB

These large rugs look beautiful and are ideal for living room rugs and dining room rugs, or they could also be used as stair runners.

Category

Early 1800s Caucasian Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Organic Material, Cotton, Wool

Antique Konya Kilim Rug Wool Old Central Anatolian Turkish Runner Carpet
Antique Konya Kilim Rug Wool Old Central Anatolian Turkish Runner Carpet

Antique Konya Kilim Rug Wool Old Central Anatolian Turkish Runner Carpet

Located in Tokyo, JP

This is Central Anatolian Antique Kilim from the Konya region with a rare and beautiful color composition. This highly collectible antique kilim has wonderful special colors and tex...

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Kilim Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Natural Fiber

Antique Reyhanli Kilim Runner Rug Wool Old Eastern Anatolian Turkish Carpet
Antique Reyhanli Kilim Runner Rug Wool Old Eastern Anatolian Turkish Carpet

Antique Reyhanli Kilim Runner Rug Wool Old Eastern Anatolian Turkish Carpet

Located in Tokyo, JP

This is an Eastern Anatolian Antique Kilim from the Reyhanli region with a rare and beautiful color composition. Due to its outstanding quality, the old Reyhanlı kilim is highly acc...

Category

Mid-19th Century Turkish Kilim Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Natural Fiber

Antique Caucasus Talish Kilim Natural Handwoven Runner Rug Caucasian Old Carpet
Antique Caucasus Talish Kilim Natural Handwoven Runner Rug Caucasian Old Carpet

Antique Caucasus Talish Kilim Natural Handwoven Runner Rug Caucasian Old Carpet

Located in Tokyo, JP

This is a large Antique Talish Kilim from the Caucasus region with a rare and beautiful color composition. Of the four countries that make up the Caucasus, Azerbaijan produces the m...

Category

Early 20th Century Caucasian Kilim Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Natural Fiber

Antique Kayseri Kilim Central Anatolia Rug Old Turkish Wool Runner Carpet
Antique Kayseri Kilim Central Anatolia Rug Old Turkish Wool Runner Carpet

Antique Kayseri Kilim Central Anatolia Rug Old Turkish Wool Runner Carpet

Located in Tokyo, JP

This is a large antique Central Anatolian Kilim from the Kayseri region with a rare and beautiful color composition. It is a very large piece, measuring 4.5 meters in length and 1.5...

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Kilim Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Natural Fiber

Antique Karachov Kazak Runner, Hand-Woven Wool, Caucasus, Late 1800s, 3' x 9'
Antique Karachov Kazak Runner, Hand-Woven Wool, Caucasus, Late 1800s, 3' x 9'

Antique Karachov Kazak Runner, Hand-Woven Wool, Caucasus, Late 1800s, 3' x 9'

Located in Barrington, IL

A striking example of 19th-century Caucasian village artistry, this antique Kazak runner features the bold geometric design with saturated natural dye colors.

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Caucasian Tribal Kazak Hallway Runner with Art Deco Tribal Style
Antique Caucasian Tribal Kazak Hallway Runner with Art Deco Tribal Style

Antique Caucasian Tribal Kazak Hallway Runner with Art Deco Tribal Style

Located in Dallas, TX

77059 Antique Caucasian Tribal Kazak Hallway Runner with Art Deco Tribal Style 03'06 x 11'06. Based on traditional designs from the Caucasus region, this hand-knotted wool antique Ru...

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Bidjar Style Runner Rug with Tree of Life Design, Red and Indigo Wool
Antique Bidjar Style Runner Rug with Tree of Life Design, Red and Indigo Wool

Antique Bidjar Style Runner Rug with Tree of Life Design, Red and Indigo Wool

By Apadana Fine Rugs

Located in Norwalk, CT

This masterfully preserved gallery runner features an enchanting, repeating "Tree of Life" and weeping willow motif, finely detailed across a rich, luminous crimson-red field.

Category

Late 19th Century American Islamic Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Chinese Peking Runner in Beige with Bright Florals & Vines - Rug & Kilim
Antique Chinese Peking Runner in Beige with Bright Florals & Vines - Rug & Kilim

Antique Chinese Peking Runner in Beige with Bright Florals & Vines - Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

Hand-knotted in wool circa early 20th century, this 6x16 Chinese Peking rug exemplifies the clarity and spaciousness of classical Chinese design. The elongated format and balanced c...

Category

1920s Chinese Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Handwoven Rare Antique Rug Lankaran Caucasian Runner Rug Long Wool Carpet
Handwoven Rare Antique Rug Lankaran Caucasian Runner Rug Long Wool Carpet

Handwoven Rare Antique Rug Lankaran Caucasian Runner Rug Long Wool Carpet

Located in Wembley, GB

Handwoven rare antique rug Caucasian runner rug long wool carpet Measures: 133 x 233cm AR64.   

Category

Early 20th Century Azerbaijani Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool, Organic Material, Cotton

Antique Caucasian Khamseh Wool Runner 89×297cm Birds Geometric 3×10 c.1890
Antique Caucasian Khamseh Wool Runner 89×297cm Birds Geometric 3×10 c.1890

Antique Caucasian Khamseh Wool Runner 89×297cm Birds Geometric 3×10 c.1890

Located in New York, NY

This antique Khamseh tribal runner, dating from the late 19th century, features a striking geometric composition with exotic bird motifs.

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Vintage Turkish Tulu Runner with Ivory, Rose, Blue, and Multicolor 3'9 x 11'4
Vintage Turkish Tulu Runner with Ivory, Rose, Blue, and Multicolor 3'9 x 11'4

Vintage Turkish Tulu Runner with Ivory, Rose, Blue, and Multicolor 3'9 x 11'4

Located in Atlanta, GA

vintage Turkish Tulu runner, ivory camel rose rug, colorful gallery runner, handwoven wool Turkish rug, multicolor bohemian runner, saffron blue pink rug, antique Anatolian tulu carp...

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Tulu Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

"Runner, " Large Rare Bronze of Nude Male Figure by Seifert, 1922
"Runner, " Large Rare Bronze of Nude Male Figure by Seifert, 1922

"Runner, " Large Rare Bronze of Nude Male Figure by Seifert, 1922

By Franz Seifert

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Sculpted as European artists were moving from Beaux Arts realism to a more stylized modern approach to the figure, which we now call Art Deco, this large and rare bronze depicts a nu...

Category

1920s Austrian Beaux Arts Antique Runners

Materials

Bronze

Antique Hand-Knotted Karabagh Runner Rug, 6'6 x 17'4 Wool, Caucasian, 1900
Antique Hand-Knotted Karabagh Runner Rug, 6'6 x 17'4 Wool, Caucasian, 1900

Antique Hand-Knotted Karabagh Runner Rug, 6'6 x 17'4 Wool, Caucasian, 1900

Located in New York, NY

From at least the 17th century onward, the workshops and village looms of Karabagh produced a wide variety of carpets, including small scatters, elegant runners, and long gallery rug...

Category

19th Century Caucasian Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Vintage Turkish Oushak Gallery Runner in Warm Red, Beige, and Soft Blue Tones
Vintage Turkish Oushak Gallery Runner in Warm Red, Beige, and Soft Blue Tones

Vintage Turkish Oushak Gallery Runner in Warm Red, Beige, and Soft Blue Tones

Located in Atlanta, GA

vintage Turkish Oushak gallery runner, red beige blue rug, floral design Oushak runner, handmade Turkish wool runner, antique style hallway rug, warm red gallery carpet, traditional ...

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Oushak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Turkish Runner Kilim Rugs, Antique Rug, Handmade Carpet Oriental Rugs for Sale
Turkish Runner Kilim Rugs, Antique Rug, Handmade Carpet Oriental Rugs for Sale

Turkish Runner Kilim Rugs, Antique Rug, Handmade Carpet Oriental Rugs for Sale

Located in Wembley, GB

This kind of carpet runners is suitable for stair runners and hallway rugs. in a striking colour combination of bright red, shiny yellow, navy, light blue, sea blue, gold, cream, and...

Category

1880s Turkish Kilim Antique Runners

Materials

Organic Material, Cotton, Wool

Antique Circa 1900 Oversize Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner Rug 2'9 x 23'6
Antique Circa 1900 Oversize Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner Rug 2'9 x 23'6

Antique Circa 1900 Oversize Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner Rug 2'9 x 23'6

Located in New York, NY

2'9 x 23'6. Bountiful floral patterns woven in gold and soft blue play over the tan central field. A botanical pattern woven in golds with evenly spaced blue medallions fills the bor...

Category

19th Century Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

2'3"x5'4" Wine Red Antique Baluch Saddle Bag Hand Knotted 100% Wool Runner Rug
2'3"x5'4" Wine Red Antique Baluch Saddle Bag Hand Knotted 100% Wool Runner Rug

2'3"x5'4" Wine Red Antique Baluch Saddle Bag Hand Knotted 100% Wool Runner Rug

Located in Carlstadt, NJ

Wine Red, Antique Baluch Saddle Bag, Hand Knotted, 100% Wool, Short & Narrow Runner, Oriental Rug Primary materials: Wool Latex: No Pile height: 0.25 Inches Style: Traditional Prima...

Category

1920s Turkish Medieval Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Uzbek Extra-Long Runner Rug with Rare Reed Construction - Rug & Kilim
Antique Uzbek Extra-Long Runner Rug with Rare Reed Construction - Rug & Kilim

Antique Uzbek Extra-Long Runner Rug with Rare Reed Construction - Rug & Kilim

Located in Long Island City, NY

This 5x20 antique Uzbek runner rug is an outstanding, one-of-a-kind new curation in the Rug & Kilim collection—made in rare construction with reeds and wool in an almost ribbed varia...

Category

1910s Turkish Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Turkish Oushak Runner in Pale Ice Blue, Ivory, and Faint Taupe Subtle Medallions
Turkish Oushak Runner in Pale Ice Blue, Ivory, and Faint Taupe Subtle Medallions

Turkish Oushak Runner in Pale Ice Blue, Ivory, and Faint Taupe Subtle Medallions

Located in Atlanta, GA

light blue Turkish Oushak runner, pale ice blue vintage runner, Turkish rug neutral tones, ivory and taupe Oushak rug, soft color Oushak hallway runner, antique Turkish runner with m...

Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Oushak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Circa 1890 Red Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner Rug 3'1 x 6'9
Antique Circa 1890 Red Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner Rug 3'1 x 6'9

Antique Circa 1890 Red Hand Knotted Oriental Wool Runner Rug 3'1 x 6'9

Located in New York, NY

3'1 x 6'9. Woven in a range of medallion and all over designs , they have a wonderful style that makes them excellent decorative pieces so suitable for today’s designs and themes.

Category

19th Century Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Handmade Antique Persian Style Heriz Runner Rug 3.7' x 12.1', 1920s - 1D78
Handmade Antique Persian Style Heriz Runner Rug 3.7' x 12.1', 1920s - 1D78

Handmade Antique Persian Style Heriz Runner Rug 3.7' x 12.1', 1920s - 1D78

Located in Bordeaux, FR

Handmade Antique Persian Style Heriz Runner Rug Add a touch of history and artistry to your home with this handmade antique Persian style Heriz runner rug.

Category

1920s Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Green, Yellow, Orange Antique Spanish Runner Fragment of a Larger Antique Rug
Green, Yellow, Orange Antique Spanish Runner Fragment of a Larger Antique Rug

Green, Yellow, Orange Antique Spanish Runner Fragment of a Larger Antique Rug

Located in Atlanta, GA

Green, yellow, orange antique Spanish runner feat. in Atlanta homes and lifestyles, rug B-0304-B, country of origin / type: Spain / Spanish, circa 1920 Measures: 3'10 x 14' Thi...

Category

1920s Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Antique Caucasian Kuba Runner With Tribal Design & All-Over Motifs 4' x 10'6
Antique Caucasian Kuba Runner With Tribal Design & All-Over Motifs 4' x 10'6

Antique Caucasian Kuba Runner With Tribal Design & All-Over Motifs 4' x 10'6

Located in Atlanta, GA

Antique Caucasian Kuba Gallery Runner with Tribal Design and All-Over Motifs. Keivan Woven Arts / rug X23-0811-79, country of origin / type: Caucasus / Shirvan, circa 1890.

Category

Late 19th Century Caucasian Kazak Antique Runners

Materials

Wool

Vintage Kazak Caucasian Wool Runner In Blue With Multicolor Allover Design
Vintage Kazak Caucasian Wool Runner In Blue With Multicolor Allover Design

Vintage Kazak Caucasian Wool Runner In Blue With Multicolor Allover Design

Located in Norwalk, CT

This handcrafted Kazak wool rug showcases a vibrant blue palette with delicate red, yellow, and beige accents. It is adorned with an intricate all-over pattern. This rug measures 3'...

Category

Early 1900s Caucasian Kazak 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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