Deco Rugs Most Expensive
Antique 1880s Spanish Empire Turkish Rugs
Wool, Cotton
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Empire Western European Rugs
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Western European Rugs
Wool
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20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Travertine
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Night Stands
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Night Stands
Walnut
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Night Stands
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century French Aubusson Western European Rugs
Wool
Antique Late 19th Century French Aubusson Western European Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1960s English Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal
Mid-20th Century Spanish Renaissance Revival Dining Room Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Console Tables
Walnut
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Western European Rugs
Wool
Antique 19th Century Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1790s French Louis XVI Trumeau Mirrors
Mirror
Early 20th Century French Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Spanish Modern Nautical Objects
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century French Aubusson Western European Rugs
Wool, Cotton
Recent Sales
20th Century Dutch Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Wool
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.
- Why are Moroccan rugs so expensive?2 AnswersNazmiyalMarch 23, 2021They actually are pretty inexpensive when compared to other types of rugs.1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021Morrocan rugs are so expensive because every part of the process from dyeing the wool with valuable dyes to hand tying each knot is labor intensive. The West’s current infatuation with Moroccan tribal rugs stretches to the mid-20th century, when designers embraced bold geometric patterns and even bolder palettes as counterpoints to form-follows-function interiors. Alvar Aalto, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier were among the designers who used these rustic, natural rugs to offset austere interiors.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 3, 2024Persian rugs can be expensive because they are made with the highest quality materials, the cost of which trickles down to the consumer, and because of the long time that it takes to create these majestic works.
Antique and vintage Persian rugs are handmade from the finest materials, including wool and silk. These fibers are colored using natural dyes derived from insects and plants and woven into bold designs that reflect Iran’s culture and history. Regarded as works of art, carpets and rugs of this kind can take months or years to complete.
Iran (modern-day Persia) encompasses different cultures, languages and dialects, and its exquisite rugs reflect this diversity. The fascination with Persian rugs dates at least as far back as the 4th century B.C., when historian Xenophon referred to the “soft rugs on which the Persians sit.” For centuries, Iran has been known for the craftsmanship, intricate patterns and artistry of its carpets, which have found their way into households and museums around the world.
The antique and vintage Persian rugs for sale on 1stDibs include Persian tribal rugs, handmade silk Persian rugs and more. - 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Navajo rugs are so expensive due to their exemplary craftsmanship and use of high quality wool. The tightness of the weaving, size of the rug, dyes used and condition all affect a Navajo rug's price. Prices for Navajo rugs typically range anywhere from $100 to a few thousand dollars. Find Navajo rugs and carpets now on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 15, 2019
Turkish rugs are expensive due to the cost of labor required to hand spin, dye, and weave the wool.
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