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Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Swedish, 1873-1941

Märta Måås-Fjetterström was the leading figure in Swedish textile design in the early 20th century. Through her rug-weaving studio, MMF AB, Måås-Fjetterström introduced a modern and cosmopolitan spirit to the tradition-bound craft, creating some of the era’s most sublime rugs and carpets — works that are elegant yet have a handmade warmth and honesty.

Måås-Fjetterström was the daughter of a small-town minister, and her creative bent led her to study drawing at the School of Industrial Arts in Stockholm between 1890 and 1895. She became an art teacher after graduating and began drafting textile designs in the late 1890s. At the time, Sweden was experiencing many of the same cultural concerns that fueled the English Arts and Crafts movement: fears that industrialization was causing many traditional handicrafts to wither into extinction. The state supported numerous artisan workshops, and Måås-Fjetterström was hired as director of a weaving studio in the southern city of Mälmo in 1905. She was dismissed six years later for insisting that artisans be allowed to create original patterns rather than merely copy old ones.

She traveled widely in search of design inspirations, and in 1919 — thanks in large part to the patronage of Ludvig Nobel, grand-nephew of Alfred Nobel, who commissioned her to make all the rugs for a new country manor hotel — Måås-Fjetterström opened her own workshop. There she trained many of Sweden’s best modern weavers, including Barbo Nilsson and Marianne Richter (the latter, a widely celebrated mid-century modernist designer, became a leader at Måås-Fjetterström's atelier after its founder's death in 1941).

A major exhibition in Stockholm in 1934 brought public acclaim, a reputation secured worldwide by exhibitions at the British Museum in 1936 and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1939. Måås-Fjetterström’s company, MMF AB, is still in operation, and most of her roughly 700 designs are available for fabrication.

A broad range of influences can be seen in Måås-Fjetterström’s designs, among them Art Nouveau and classic Near Eastern and Asian styles. Her rug patterns fall roughly into two groups: The first includes stylized floral and other naturalistic motifs as well as modernized folkloric themes. The second comprises those employing geometric “tiles” in a formal composition based on that of Persian rugs, with an intricate border surrounding a central medallion.

Måås-Fjetterström generally used a subtle color palette: Soft pastels predominate, punctuated by the odd vibrant note. Her rugs are remarkable for their flexibility of use in decor schemes. They are a perfect complement to simple modern furniture in both blond and darker finishes; at the same time, the rugs can act as a perfect calming foil to more ornate historical styles. Måås-Fjetterström's creations, particularly signed vintage pieces, are highly collectible. Her designs are found in the world's leading museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.

Find a collection of vintage Märta Måås-Fjetterström rugs and carpets on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Claesson Koivisto Rune "Satellit, blå" rug
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Claesson Koivisto Rune
Located in Båstad, SE
"Satellit, blå" flatweave rug, designed by architects Claesson Koivisto Rune in 2006. Executed the same year at Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB in Båstad, Sweden, by artisan weaver Monica...
Category

Early 2000s Swedish Minimalist Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool, Linen

Nazmiyal Vintage Scandinavian Rug by Barbro Nilsson. 3 ft 6 in x 4 ft 10 in
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Vintage Scandinavian Rug by Barbro Nilsson for Marta Maas, Country Of  Origin: Scandinavia, Circa Date: Mid-20th Century - Size: 3 ft 6 in x 4 ft 10 in (1.07 m x 1.47 m).
Category

Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool

Vintage Rug by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Copenhagen, DK
A beautiful handwoven rug by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB. Designed 1946 ‘Blåbär, Mörk’ (‘Dark Blueberry’). The rug have extraordinary beautiful colours. Signed AB MMF and BN Literature: Märta Måås-Fjetterström, ‘Märta flyger igen, 90 år med Märta Måås-Fjetterström’, Liljevalchs katalog 2009, p. 149 for similar example W: 221 cm H: 150,5 cm Materials: Pure wool tapestry weave technique Barbro Nilsson Barbro Nilsson was educated in weaving and dyeing and went on to become the head of textile at Konstfack, as well as executing several monumental tapestries...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool

Large Marta-Maas Fjetterström 'Ljusa Plador' Carpet, 1933
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Large Märta Måås-Fjetterström 'Ljusa Plador' flat-weave wool carpet. Designed 1933, made at MMF after 1941. Fine condition.
Category

1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Barbro Nilsson "Linienät" Swedish Wall Hanging, 1966
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in New York, NY
Swedish wall hanging by Barbro Nilsson "Linienät." Initialed: AB MMF BN (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson).
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Materials

Natural Fiber

MMF Rug 'Bruna Heden' (Brown Heath) Rölakan Flatweave Märta Måås-Fjetterström
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in London, GB
A spectacular vintage example of Marta Måås-Fjetterström's Bruna Heden (Brown Heath) design. The textile is a rölakan flatweave (same pattern on both sides...
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool

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Märta Måås-fjetterström “Schackrutig Brun” Brown Grid Carpet Signed Ab Mmf Bn
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Previously Available Items
Large Rug by Märta Måås Fjetterström
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'Vit Botten' large rug in polychrome, geometric pattern on light base. Märta Måås Fjetterström.
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Carpet "Vita Spetsporten", Märta Måås Fjetterström
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A small carpet named "Vita spetsporten" designed by Martha Måås Fjetterstrom (1873-1941). Great design, the best quality and fantastic condition.
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Small Carpet "Vita Spetsporten", Märta Måås Fjetterström
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A small carpet designed by Marta Måås Fjetterstrom (1873-1941). Signed MMF.
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Vintage Swedish Kilim by Marta Maas Fjetterstrom. Size: 6 ft 7 in x 9 ft 9 in
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Vintage Swedish Pile Marianne Richter Rug For Marta Maas. Size: 3 ft 7 in x 4 ft
By Marianne Richter, Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in New York, NY
Breathtaking and extremely Artistic Vintage Swedish Pile Marianne Richter Rug for Marta Maas, Country of Origin / Rug Type: Swedish, Circa Date: M...
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Vintage Flat-Weave Rug "Blåplump" by Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Sweden, 1937
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Märta Måås-Fjetterström Sweden, 1937 “Blåplump” rug. Handwoven wool in cream with blue and red details. Designed in 1937. Handwoven at Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Båstad, Sweden....
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Oversized Vintage Scandinavian Marta Maas Barbro Nilsson Rug. 12 ft x 19 ft 6 in
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful oversized vintage Scandinavian by Barbro Nilsson for Marta Maas rug, country of origin: Scandinavia, date circa mid-20th century - Size: 12 ft x 19 ft 6 in (3.66 m x 5.94 m). The iconic designs of mid-20th century artist Marta Maas-Fjetterstrom fit as seamlessly into contemporary interior designs as they did in mid-century rooms. She was a fiber artist who worked from her studio in Bastad, Sweden. Her designs are both modernist and organic. She was inspired by her natural surroundings and the Swedish landscape. Over her lifetime, she created over 700 designs, which were rooted in Nordic traditions and culture. Marta became recognized for her designs when she was asked to design a set of rugs...
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Flat-Woven Carpet by Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Sweden, 1931
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Berlin, DE
Flat-weave carpet designed 1931 by Märta Måås-Fjetterström and executed before, 1942. Made of handwoven wool with a woven MMF signature to the edge.
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Vintage Scandinavian Swedish Kilim Rug by Marta Maas Fjetterstrom.
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful vintage Scandinavian Swedish Kilim rug by Marta Maas Fjetterstrom, country of origin / rug type: Scandinavian rug, cir...
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Swedish Midcentury Rug, Designed by Barbro Nilsson in 1946
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Lejre, DK
Scandinavian handwoven carpet made in wool. Designed by Barbro Nilsson for AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström. Made in 1946. Great original condition.
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Märta Måås-Fjetterström "Snäckorna" Vintage Rug in Wool, Sweden, 1943
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Charming "Snäckorna" rug in wool and tapestry weave. Designed in 1943 and handwoven in 1955 at Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Båstad, Sweden.
Category

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Materials

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Vintage Flat-Weave Rug "Blåplump" by Märta Måås-fjetterström, Sweden, 1937
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
“Blåplump” rug. Handwoven wool in cream with blue and red details. Designed in 1937. Handwoven at Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Båstad, Sweden. Märta Måås-Fjetterström (1873-1941), ...
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Märta Måås-Fjetterström Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool

Märta Måås-fjetterström western european rugs for sale on 1stDibs.

Märta Måås-Fjetterström western european rugs are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider western european rugs by Ingegerd Silow, Hojer Eksport Wilton, and Ege Rya.

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