Early 20th Century Central Asian Rugs

This 4x6 antique Chinese tapestry is a rare and special new curation from Rug & Kilim featuring dragon and phoenix pictorials — hand woven i...

A mid 20th century room size Chinese rug in blue and yellow. The wool and feel of the rug is very soft on the feet. It has a silky sheen to it a...

Antique Samarkand Lion Design Rug 6'6'' X 4'4'', handmade and hand-knotted, Lion Designs are super rare and they were made by a tribes that they were worshiping Lions which we all kn...

Vintage Samarkand (Khotan) Handmade Wool Carpet Size: 2'7" × 4'10" (78 × 147 cm) An early 20th century Samarkand (Khotan) rug, the beige field with a floral motifs and pair of vases ...

Beautiful antique Turkish Anatolian Kars rug, hand knotted wool with a light brown field, tan and sandy cream accents in an all-over geometric design, circa 1910s This rug measures ...

An early 20th century hand knotted antique Bashir rug with a rust field and repeating octagonal design. This rug measures 6'10" x 9'7".

Very rare matching pair of antique khotans with one measuring 4'1'' x 5'11'' and the other measuring 4'4'' x 6'2''.

An early 20th century Caucasian Kuba rug with a geometric design in green and blue Measures: 3'7" x 6'1" This captivating Caucasian Kuba presents an enchanting snowflake motif ...

An antique East Turkestan Khotan accent rug handmade during the early 20th century. Measures: 4' 9" x 8' 11"

A full pile excellent condition early 20th century Khotan rug. Gray ground, red accent pomegranates throughout with a lavender multi band border, circa 1920, measures: 5'11" x 9'.

Woven by hand with a traditional motif design. This piece has been constructed with an orange and deep blue colour palette with accents of green. The design has a repeating central p...

Antique Turkish Oushak decorative oriental carpet, room size, with green field. A gorgeous antique Turkish Oushak carpet, circa 1900, size 13'4" x 10'2" This lovely carpet features ...

An antique Mongolian room size carpet handmade during the early 20th century with a contemporary Art Deco style geometric pattern in neutral colors. Measures: 9' 2" x 11' 1" The craft of the hand-knotted carpet in China, and the surrounding areas including Mongolia and Tibet, extends into the early centuries of the first millennium, C.E., but we really have a firm grasp only beginning in the later 16th century with large, very coarsely woven carpets, often depicting dragons, created for the Imperial Forbidden City palaces. Chinese carpets have always been commercial and there are no tribal groups responsible for any of the carpet weaving strains. When the Ming Dynasty fell in 1644, with no Imperial patrons, production moved to the city of Ningxia in north central China where several workshops turned out more finely woven pieces for the Mandarins of the administrative Ch’ing bureaucracy and well-to-do merchants. Ningxia was the major Chinese carpet center up through most of the 19th century, with first allover and then medallion designs on cotton foundations in medium weaves. Palettes were initially limited to yellows, dark blue and cream, but later widened to include reds, browns and even green. These antiques were the first Chinese carpets to be exported to the West and they fitted in well with the craze for Chinese blue-and-white porcelain in the second half of the 19th century. Ningxia also wove shaped and rectangular small rugs for saddle underlays, chair (“throne”) seats and shaped backs, pillar carpets with dragons or monks for Buddhist monasteries, and long divided runners for monastery meditation halls. These small rugs are among the most collectible of all Chinese weavings. Weavers from Ningxia set up workshops in the capital Peking (Beijing) in the 1860’s and began weaving Western room sizes for export, primarily to America. In blue – and – white and polychrome palettes, with round wreath medallions, precious objects, seasonal flowers, paeonies, lotuses, fretwork, clouds, butterflies and bats, all relatively spaciously drawn. The round “Shou” (Good Luck) character is also a prominent decorative motif. There are also a few Peking landscape pictorials with pagodas, houses, bridges, waterscapes and boats. Peking carpets were woven right up until WWII and production began again after the Cultural Revolution around 1970. They are moderately well-woven, on cotton foundations, exactingly executed and indisputably Chinese. Many are in the blue-and-white style. Nothing else looks like a Peking carpet and for a Chinese “look” in a room, they are absolutely indispensable. Sizes range from scatters and a few runners, through the popular 9’12’ size, to large carpets over 20’ which must have been special orders. The earliest Peking Revival carpets are pliable and fairly thin, but they became heavier and more compact in the 20th century, in competition with Art Deco carpets from Tientsin. The modern, post- 1970, pieces are in the traditional Peking style, but are a little too regular and neat. Exactitude has been favored over character, as hard to explain that as it is. There are a number of all-silk and silk-and –metal thread pieces, many with inscriptions purporting to link them with rooms in the Imperial palaces, bringing very substantial auction prices, but none are really antique. The genre emerged after WWI and the present demand comes from mainland Chinese. The silk piles often stand in pattern relief against flat woven gold metal thread grounds. The inscriptions are apocryphal, the rugs are flashily opulent, perfect for nouveaux riches. The Art Deco period between the two World Wars saw a distinctive carpet industry developing in Tientsin (Tianjin) in northeastern China. These are highly prized for their transitional design character, neither overtly Chinese, nor abstractly modern/contemporary. Woven exclusively for export, usually by and for American firms, such as Nichols and Elbrook, they are totally in the “Jazz Age Modern” style of the 1920’s, often without borders, with abstract or abstracted patterns, and only with, at best, a few Chinese-y pattern elements. Vases asymmetrically placed in the corners are features of some of the more Chinese-y carpets. Open fields with floral sprays and branches growing in from the edges are anther design innovation. Often, Chinese motives have been re-imagined in more sharp-edged, abstract manners. Some have no references whatsoever to natural elements. The patterns are sharp and the rugs are never subdued, soft or restrained. The rugs are heavily constructed, with crisp, unfading dyes and medium to medium coarse weaves on cotton foundations. All are extremely well-executed, with none of the vagaries, variations or twists found on even high-quality Persian rugs. The majority are in the 9’ by 12’ format and a surprising number can be found in top condition. There also was a substantial production in Peking from, especially from the Fette factory. Elliptical and round carpets, and lighter, often pastel colors, were a specialty. Nothing looks like an Art Deco Chinese and they work well with traditional Chinese furniture and the most modern decor as well. These is no substitute for a good Chinese Art Deco carpet. Chinese carpets also include small scatters from Tibet, with high quality wool, floating dragons and allover textile patterns. The colors of vintage and modern pieces are bright, but there are antique small rugs (sleeping rugs) with simple chessboard allovers. Only a few large antique Tibetan carpets...

Large decorative Khotan rug featuring a flower vase design on a soft pinky red background. 8'8'' x 16'2'' Producing rugs since the 17th century with peak production in the 1...

an early 20th century tribal ersari rug in green and brown with a mini khani pattern often found in 19th century caucasian rugs Details rug no. j3942 size 10' 3" x 12' 10" (312 x 39...

Persian Karaja Design Area Rug, Early 20th Century

Beautiful Vintage Tabriz hand-knotted wool rug with a tan color field. This piece has a dark blue frame, multicolor accents, and a gorgeous all-over floral design. This rug measur...

74647, antique Afghani tribal rug or kitchen, bath, foyer or entryway. This hand-knotted wool antique Afghani tribal rug features a geometric pattern i...

Antique Turkish Oushak Decorative Oriental Carpet, Room size, with Light brown Field A gorgeous antique Turkish Oushak carpet, circa 1920, size 13'2" x 10'0" This lovely carpet fe...

Beautiful early 20th century Turkmen rug with nice tribal and geometrical design and nice colors, entirely and finely hand knotted with wool velvet on wool foundation.

Kilim Rug Elegant Gradient Design Elevate your living space with this striking handwoven Kilim rug measuring 123 × 195 cm. Featuring a bold gradient design in deep black and vibrant ...

Rare and Beautiful Large Oversized Antique Khotan Carpet, Country of Origin: East Turkestan, Circa Date: 1910. Size: 14 ft x 20 ft (4.27 m x 6.1 m).

An early 20th century Khotan runner.

An antique Russian Karabagh rug from the first quarter of the 20th century featuring tones of coral, browns and light purple.

1920s Chinese Art Deco Carpet ( 9'2" x 11'9" - 279 x 358 )

Hand-knotted in wool and originating in Turkey circa 1920-30, this 4x8 antique rug is a welcomed addition to the Samarkand rarities in the Antique rug collection by Rug & Kilim. On...

Very rare antique signed Ardabil rug by famous master in pure lambswool. A true palace size masterpiece richly woven in beautiful refined yet vibrant hues with the famous central med...

Hand-knotted in wool and originating from China circa 1900, this 5x7 antique Peking rug is a particularly special piece, both for its open field and for its subtle execution of picto...

Rug Number 1000060 Size 2' 3" X 8' 8" Design Kazak Collection Antique/Vintage Material Wool Texture Pile Weave Origin Pakistan Age Antique/Vintage

71812 Antique Indian Kashmir Wool Felted Rug, 09'00 x 12'00. ​Indian Kashmir wool felted rugs are handcrafted textiles made in the Kashmir region of India using a traditional felting...

76638, antique Afghan Balouch salt bag, wall hanging, Afghan Tapestry, Tribal textile. This hand knotted wool antique Afghan Balouch salt bag features ancient tribal motifs, S-hooks, and uneven fringe hangs from the bottom. The Afghani Salt Bags were used by nomads to carry coins or salt. The purpose was to stop the rock salt from falling out and also to keep out the moisture and rain. Perfect used as a wall hanging, tapestry, or tribal wall art. Bespeaking age and history, this vintage Afghan textile...

A beautiful early 20th century Central Asian Samarghand rug with an unusual geometric patterned central square medallion surrounded by Chinese Shou characters, symbols of longevity a...

A wonderful early 20th century Central Asian Khotan rug with a beautiful all-over partern with alternating floral, leaf and endless-knot motifs, woven in rich crimson, gold, pink and...

An exceptional early 20th century Central Asian Samarghand rug with a wonderful large stylized floral central medallion woven in crimson and fuchsia amidst a field of flowers and tre...

An early 20th century central Asian Samarkand rug with a large circular medallion woven with a pomegranate motif on a pale indigo background, amidst a field of pomegranates in a natu...

An ode to the nomadic sensibilities of Baluchistan, a 2x3 antique Baluch rug originating from Persia circa 1920-1930. The rustic imagination features a geometric pattern in brown & b...

74679 Antique Afghan Ersari Rug, 05'09 X 13'02. Nomadic charm meets Maximalism in this antique Afghani Ersari rug. The geometric design and lively earthy hues woven into this piece w...

An antique tribal Beshir accent rug in gallery format handmade during the early 20th century by the nomadic tribes of Central Asia. Measures: 6' 2" x 10' 10".

Hand-knotted in wool, an antique 6x13 Khotan rug originating from East Turkestan circa 1920-1930 - latest to join Rug & Kilim’s antique selections. On the Design: The design enjoys...

This fine cream wool rug is a handwoven masterpiece. Woven with fine organic materials, the central design features a bold all-over design with a red background and accents of pink, ...

Antique Persian Heriz oriental rug, room size. An antique Persian Heriz oriental rug, size 10'8" x 8'7", circa 1920. This handsome hand-woven geometric rug features a central meda...

Deep reds have been used as the primary colours into this high-quality handmade carpet Antique Afghan rug, with a highly detailed repeat pattern design that was hand-woven in 1940 with hand-spun, vegetable-dyed wool, and cotton, by some of the finest artisans. Perfect oriental rug for both modern or traditional interiors, bedrooms, living rooms or even entryways, this carpet rug is sure to make a lovely accent piece for any room it is introduced to. The central design is an asymmetrical repeat pattern with the top half woven into a point and diamond. A sub-border outlines the design with a repeat pattern design followed by the main rectangular border revealing intricate square motifs, repeated around the whole edge and a fringed edge on two sides. Quality Antique Rug Afghan...

Antique Chinese Peking rug, large size, circa 1910. A one-of-a-kind antique Chinese Peking oriental carpet, hand-knotted with medium thicknes...

An antique East Turkestan Khotan rug in runner format with a pomegranate design handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 2' 2" x 7' 6" Central Asian Rugs & Carpets: Central Asia is a vast area stretching from Northeastern Persia to western China, and from northern Afghanistan to the southern edge of Russia. The carpets can be usefully divided into three groups: the nomadic Turkmen rugs of Turkmenistan, northern Afghanistan, and northeastern Persia; the non-Turkmen tribal pieces from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kirghizstan; and the urban creations of Khotan, Yarkand, and Kashgar, oasis cities of Western China (Xinjiang Province). Commercially, the most important group is from Khotan, the easternmost of the Chinese Turkestan cities. The craft of rug weaving is primarily in the hands of Muslim Uighurs. Khotan carpets mix purely Central Asian design themes with Chinese elements. Native Khotan devices include pomegranate trees, upright flowers, round medallions, and yellow or red grounds. Chinese motives include triangular fretwork corners, swastika fretwork, and Yun-Tsao Tou (clouds and rain) diagonally striped polychrome borders. Cotton foundations, asymmetrical (Persian) knots, and medium weaves are standard. Some vintage Khotan are in horizontal, pictorial layouts with multiple various vases and plants. Saphs (multiple prayer niche panel carpets) are also a Khotan specialty. Others employ stepped and layered lozenge medallions, singly or in pairs. Still others, almost all antique, feature a stylized version of the allover Persian Herati design. Many of the oldest pieces employ brown wool wefts. Antique and vintage Khotans are almost always in the k’ang (double square) layout, conforming to the local household plans. Only relatively recently has the 6’ by 12’ or 7’ by 16’ format been replaced by the 9’ by 12’ size. As a result, an antique room size Khotan carpet is very uncommon. Reds are cinnamon, tomato and rust, never wine reds, crimson, or scarlet. Yarkand, farther west on the old Silk Road specializes in multi-medallion long carpets while Kashgar, farthest west and most under Persian influence, has traditionally knotted allover pattern pieces with finer weaves, often with silk piles, and enriched with medal thread, on cotton foundations. Extant Kashgars go back to the 17th century, but the carpet craft in Chinese Turkestan must be much older as fragments have been recovered from local tombs of the early C.E. period. Kashgars are the rarest of all East Turkestan rugs. Most available vintage East Turkestan carpets are interwar Khotans, many with pleasingly soft decorative palettes. The non-Turkmen nomads include the Kazakh, Kirghiz, Uzbek, and Karakalpak groups. Like the Turkmen, they were once all seasonally migratory, dwelling in round felt tents (yurts), but have been settled, at least partially, in the villages, and have taken up crafts and agriculture instead of sheep herding. As a result, carpet production has transitioned from domestic tent use to commercial sale, but the roots of long traditions are still evident. The Uzbeks weave...

Paying tribute to the nomadic sensibilities of Baluchistan, a 2x3 antique Baluch rug coming from Persia circa 1920-1930. The hand-knotted wool rug displays a tribal geometric pattern...

This fine wool rug is an excellent handwoven carpet; this antique piece was constructed in 1920 with locally sourced organic materials. The central design features a rich orange background with brown, black and blue accents that make up the repeat geometric pattern. Popular with interior designers and homeowners because of their luxurious look and feel. Easily pair this piece with your modern home interior or Rustic vintage decor...

An antique East Turkestan Khotan gallery carpet handmade during the early 20th century. Measures: 6' 8" x 13' 1".

Antique Indo Saraband Rug, size 14'7" H x 12'0", circa 1920 An antique Indo Saraband Rug, size 14'7" H x 12'0" W, in large size, circa 1920. This fine f...

A wonderful early 20th century Central Asian Khotan rug with a beautiful central stylized floral medallion amidst a field of myriad flowers and trees-of-life on a gorgeous orange bac...

An antique East Turkestan Khotan rug in gallery format from the early 20th century.

Antique Persian Heriz Oriental rug, room size. An antique Persian Heriz oriental rug, size 11'5" x 8'1", circa 1920. This handsome hand-woven geometric rug features a central meda...

It does not come with an insert. Cotton in the back. Zipper closure. Dry clean is recommended.  

Hand knotted in high-quality wool from East Turkestan between 1910-1920, this antique Khotan rug hosts a rich variation of ornate symbols and borders, including a mirrored medallion ...

Symmetrical and sophisticated, this Oriental Turkish Kilim has been woven in Pirot with a bold geometric design. The central design features a blue background with mustard, pink and red accents that make up the trio of motifs that run through the centre. A repeating pattern tribal border then frames this. The geometry of these rugs complements modern furnishings and their warm colours, and artistic depth enhance antiques of all kinds. Constructed with organic hand-spun wool and cotton that has been dyed with organic vegetable techniques. The traditional construction of this fine wool kilim makes it durable and sure to last for generations if cared for correctly. Our team source only the finest interior accessories, with years of experience, let our team help you find the perfect accent pieces for your home interior. Our inventory includes a range of modern rugs, vintage rugs and antique rugs. With a huge range of colours and sizes available now. Geometric Kilim antique rug...

An antique Khotan carpet from the first quarter of the 20th century. Khotan rugs and carpets were produced in the oasis town of Eastern Turkestan, today part of the Xinjiang region i...

An antique East Turkestan Kirghiz carpet from the turn of the 20th century.

Originating from East Turkestan in the 1920s, this antique traditional Khotan rug from Rug & Kilim has a distinct medallion-style field design surrounded by key eastern symbolism. As Khotan was a Buddhist kingdom, this rug employs symbolic golden-yellow spandrels in the field corners and the continuously drawn black Chinese meandering...

Hand knotted in quality wool, this Khotan runner originates from Turkestan circa 1920-1930. The gracious scale presents itself in a scintillating dark blue-gray backdrop that beautif...