Ardeco Gallery Rugs and Carpets

Needlepoint rugs were created using the traditional needlework weaving technique that is used to make everyday items from furniture to carpets and artwork. However, it has a fascinating history both as a hobby and as an industry. When many people think of carpets, they think of pile carpets or flat weave kilims, but needlepoint has also been used to create beautiful carpets. These carpets are durable and an important part of carpet history. Archaeologists and scholars consider the roots of needlepoint to have been around 1500 BC. They consider the first needlepoint to include the fine diagonal stitches that were used to sew tents together by the ancient Egyptians. The art eventually evolved into tapestry weaving. However, a tapestry weaving differs significantly from needlepoint in that it uses a loom and vertical warp. Tapestry weaving is closer to the weaving of kilims and pile rugs than canvas work. However, some still include tapestry weaving in the category of needlepoint because of the fine work that appeared during the late Renaissance. It can have a similar appearance to the untrained eye. Technically, tapestry weaving and needlepoint are not the same, and they do not use the same technique. The first actual needlepoint rugs and needle-points began to appear in the late Renaissance. Needlepoint is worked by creating stitches on a stiff canvas. The canvas is typically made from jute or linen and is quite durable. Pieces from the Renaissance were used to cover footstools, chairs, pillows, bed headboards, and other furnishings. They were also used as table coverings and wall coverings. You could also find them on many small items such as purses, shoes, and various adornments for clothing. During the Renaissance, the craft reached a high level of skill, and the designs became incredibly detailed and realistic. They mimicked many of the subjects and styles of famous paintings of the time. They created florals, still life designs, scenes, and geometric tiled pieces. Some of them mimicked the designs found in Persian Carpets. Needlepoint reached its peak popularity in the 19th century when it was considered a proper occupation for a lady. Needlepoint and embroidery held a similar place in societal status at the time. During this time, the work became finer, with some of the canvas reaching a high level of detail. The level of detail is determined by counting the number of mesh in an inch. During this time petit point by French needlewomen could have a mesh count as high as 45 mesh. This allowed women to create highly intricate designs with incredible levels of detail. It is possible to find many antique pieces of needlepoint besides rugs. Needlepoint rugs were popular in France and Spain, where the technique was adapted to create highly intricate designs that mimicked the designs in architecture and fashion. They were popular because they were durable, and it could be fashioned into a variety of items. The canvases themselves were durable, and the wool that they used was also strong, which means that many of the pieces were able to withstand daily use. We have many artifacts that have survived from this time period. Needlepoint rugs are important collectibles because they are different from the pile rugs and kilims that are typically found on the market. Needlepoint carpets are special because they take many hours to create, especially larger works. Needlepoint pieces of any type became popular throughout Europe during the 19th century. It is still a popular hobby today, but perhaps one of the most interesting stories is that of the Portuguese needlewomen of Arraiolos. The story of these women and their beautiful carpets begins in 1492. Needlepoint was a popular occupation in Spain, which had a large population of Moors and Jews. They were an integral part of Spanish culture. However, in 1492, Queen Isabella of Spain issued a proclamation that gave these ethnic groups the order to pack their bags and board ships headed...

Handwoven in wool, a 10x13 flat weave from Rug & Kilim’s celebrated Scandinavian Kilim Collection. Celebrating Swedish Modernist aesthetics, the Kilim enjoys a gorgeous geometric pat...

Modern Scandinavian Design, Modern Swedish Rug/ rjk-16221-shb-012-03 This Scandinavian flat-weave rug is inspired by the work of Swedish textile designers of the early to mid-20th ce...

Vintage Kilim rug in a design called named "Dellen" by Ingegerd Silow. Named after a lake in the Hälsingland province in northern Sweden this piece has a beautiful geometric pattern ...

Beautiful modern oversize Swedish style wool rug with a solid beige field. This Swedish rug has accents of brown in a gorgeous all-over geometric frame design. This rug measures:...

Inspired by the geometric architecture and rich colors of the Swedish Grace era. A significant Scandinavian design movement that drew inspiration from neoclassicism and art deco. ...

78463 Ingrid Sterling Vintage Swedish Rya Rug, 03'05 x 09'03. This vintage Swedish Rya rug, designed by Ingrid Sterling for the renowned Marks Rya Company, embodies the essence of Sc...

Rollakan rugs, also spelled "röllakan" or "rölakan," are a type of traditional Swedish flat-woven rug. The name "rollakan" comes from the Swedish words "rulla" (to roll) and "lakan" ...

78472 Vintage Swedish Rya Rug by Berit Koenig, 04'09 x 06'11. BK initials in lower corner for Berit Koenig Woelfer. SH initials in lower corner which represent the weaving studo of...

Rug ‘Salerno Grey’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Sweden, 1948. Hand-woven wool. Rölakan technique. Signed. Provenance: From a private Swedish collect...

Flat wave rug designed by Ingegerd Silow . Circa 1950th. Signed IS. Sweden. Hand woven wool. Dimensions: L 117″. W 74″ .

Vintage Swedish flat-weave, "VITA Rutmattan" rug, designed by Marta Maas-Fjetterström (1873-1941). Dimensions: 210 x 138 cm. (84" x 54.3"). Marked AB MMF. Designed in 1933. Woven a...