Early 20th Century Russian and Scandinavian Rugs

Antique Persian Mohtashem Rugs – Antique Rugs By Mohtashem From Kashan – Ustad Mohtashem is one of the most revered weavers of Kashan. His rugs are some of the highest quality Persian weaving. The town of Kashan located in central Iran between Isfahan and Tehran is often referred to as the greatest weaving center in western Persia. Since the 3rd quarter of the 19th century and for about 30 years, the finest and most delicate area rugs of wool and silk were woven by arguably the most respected ustadan (master weaver), Zufilkhar Ed Din Mohtashem. These fine Persian rugs are noted for their use of purple and ruby red silk bindings for the selvedges. They are characterized by a particular style, color and use of imported merino wool. Whether signed or unsigned, antique Mohtashem Kashan rugs are considered the crème de la crème of all antique Kashan rugs. In modern times, the Mohtashem name is well known, but very little is known about his origins. It remained a mystery whether or not Mohtasham was simply a trade name, or whether he had actually existed. There is a legend going around according to which Hadji Mollah Mohammad Hassan Mohtashem of Kashan was a well-to-do businessman, famous for his textiles. However, in the 1880’s business was bad owing to the importing of machine-worked textiles from Europe. The story goes that Mohtashem had married a young woman from Sultanabad, who had brought with her from her city of origin the ancient tradition of the knotted carpet. In view of the fact that business did not seem to be picking up, his wife wove a carpet using merino wool imported from Manchester. Upon completion of the carpet, local merchants were so enthusiastic that they commissioned more similar ones. This drove Mohtasham not only to ask his wife to start weaving again, but also to train other weavers of Kashan to produce carpets using this model. Thus, according to the legend of the bazaar, the art of the carpet began again; it had been lost in Kashan since the fall of the Safavid dynasty in 1723. This sparked a revival of the art of the carpet in Kashan; in 1890 there were only three operating looms, and that these became one thousand five hundred in 1900 and four thousand in 1949. This specific Mohtashem carpet exemplifies how art can influence the onlooker. To appreciate such a great work of art, no great knowledge is needed; all one needs to enjoy this carpet is mere observation and attention to detail. This Mohtashem, woven with high quality kourk wool and an extremely fine weave, is unusual with its all-over design of delicate scrolling floral vines and palmettes in soft blues and ivory colors. The combination of the colors used coupled with the exceptional condition and the fact that Mohtashem rugs are never found in runner sizes make this a truly rare and magnificent work of art. What did you imagine as you read that just now? No doubt it was an elegant and refined weaving graced with curvilinear flora that winds its way through and around a commanding medallion. A rug that draws dropped jaws from anyone that beholds its magnificence. A sea of swirling ruby tones, indigo, sapphire — a rug as bejeweled and becoming as a sultans own palace. The image may seem fantastic, but in truth antique Mohtashem rugs boast just these types of elements. Mohtashem rugs from city of Kashan are some of the finest rugs to emerge from the major Persian weaving centers of old and are synonymous with the quality one would expect from an antique Persian rug. History Of Antique Persian Mohtasham: The 19th century Persian Mohtasham rugs, are the rarest of all the antique rugs that were woven in the city of Kashan in the modern day country of Iran. These fine and beautiful antique rugs utilize color palettes and designs that are not exactly traditional. The reflective quality of the rugs’ surface comes from high grade lamb’s wool used to create these elite master weave carpets. The truly extraordinarily fine knotted antique Mohtasham rugs are difficult to locate. These magnificent antique Persian rugs tend to employ either an antique leaf, allover blossoms with intricate detail or a teardrop medallion pattern. The antique Persian Mohtashem carpets that date from the mid 19th century or before are the most prized of this style. Earth tones and pastels that have been softened over time are the colors used. Some of the most beautiful Mohtasham rugs will have a background that is gold or antique ivory to reflect the exquisite detail of the fine Persian carpets. Private collections are usually the only place that very old antique...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

Soumak rugs (also spelled Sumak) – This construction technique produces a flat-weave rug that is thick, strong and exceptionally durable. Unlike kilims, Soumak rugs are not reversibl...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Ca.1900 Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug 8'1'' X 4'11''

Shirvan rugs – The historic Khanate or administrative district of Shirvan produced many highly decorative antique rugs that have a formality and stylistic complexity that is found in...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

The city of Zanjan lies in the north-western area of Iran, this ancient city sprung up through salt mining in the area and was an important stop in the Silk Routes of Iran. Zanjan ca...

Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug 8'10'' X 4'7'', tribal and traditional, antique and vintage, wool on cotton foundation

Early-19th Century Antique Decorative Khotan Samarkand Rug 8'10'' x 5'3'

Antique Indian Rugs – Not all the rugs that were woven in India are easy to categorize. That is why we created this antique Indian rugs section. Here you will find Indian rugs of whi...

Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug 8'8'' X 4'10'', tribal and traditional, antique and vintage, wool on cotton foundation

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

19th Century Antique Khotan Samarkand Rug 8'5'' X 4'10''

Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug 8'4'' X 5'8'', tribal and traditional, antique and vintage, wool on cotton foundation

Shirvan rugs – The historic Khanate or administrative district of Shirvan produced many highly decorative antique rugs that have a formality and stylistic complexity that is found in...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Malayer Rug 4.9 X 3.5 , handmade and hand-knotted, tribal rug , Wool on cotton foundation, authentic Persian Carpet

1900 Antique Flat Weave Kilim Rug 6'4'' X 4'6''

Antique Chinese Rugs, as opposed to most of the antique rug productions, were woven almost exclusively for internal consumption. Since they were mostly sheltered from European and We...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

A Kashmir rug is a hand-knotted oriental rug from Kashmir valley in India, which is associated with Kashmiri handicrafts. Kashmir rugs or carpets have intricate designs that are prim...

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Mid-19th Century English Woolen Rug 5'6'' x 5'5'', Made in England (UK) in mid 19th century and has been passed around generations and it has a royalty fam...

Antique rugs that are called “Kilim rugs”, primarily refer to a type of flat weave rug that was produced without knotted pile. Because these antique rugs are found across the globe, ...

ntique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims we...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

ntique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish ...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique rugs that are called “Kilim rugs”, primarily refer to a type of flat weave rug that was produced without knotted pile. Because these antique rugs are found across the globe, ...

verné rug, verné also spelled verni or verneh, handmade Caucasian floor covering that was formerly termed a sileh. It is usually woven in two pieces joined a...

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 fascinat...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

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 fascinat...

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 fascinat...

Antique Karabagh rugs Eagerly sought after by collectors as well as designers, have one of the oldest and most varied design traditions of any antique Caucasian rugs. Many are descen...

Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

During the period of Colonial rule over India, Amritsar rugs began to reflect Western influences in their design. The craftspeople of Northern India took their chance to profit from ...

Antique Amritsar Rugs – The spectacular rugs of Amritsar capture the exotic style of India while incorporating a subtle colonial influence. This convergence of eastern and western styles results in an exceptionally alluring appearance that has been beloved by western consumers historically and today. The outstanding old Amritsar carpets were created by influential exporters to fuel the demand for exotic rugs...

Antique rugs that are called “Kilim rugs”, primarily refer to a type of flat weave rug that was produced without knotted pile. Because these antique rugs are found across the globe, ...

Antique Chinese Rugs, as opposed to most of the antique rug productions, were woven almost exclusively for internal consumption. Since they were mostly sheltered from European and We...

Up for sale is a 1900s Antique Decorative Khotan Samarkand Rug. This rug is made of wool on a cotton foundation. It is tribal and traditional

Up for sale is an Authentic Khotan Samarkand Rug 6'1'' X 2'6'', tribal and traditional rug and made with wool on cotton foundation back in the early-19th century by tribes from north...

Beautiful and decorative early 20th century rug with an Art Deco design and grey, yellow, beige and brown colors, entirely and knotted with wool velvet on wool foundation. ✨✨✨ "Expe...

A fine quality Early 20th-century wide Turkish runner with a floral motif in warm colors Measures: 4'5” x 10'10”.

An early 20th century Caucasian Karabagh runner featuring a traditional paisley motif and floral border Measures: 3'4" x 9'8'' Karabagh rugs were handwoven in the South-Easter...

An antique Caucasian Kazak accent rug. The royal blue ground of this low pile east Caucasian scatters shows two red hexagonal medallions and attending pairs of ivory smaller gul moti...

Antique Caucasian rug with a dazzling color combination. 3'6'' x 4'8''

An antique Caucasian Karabagh rug from the early 20th century. Size: 3'11" x 7'7"

51170 Antique Russian Karabagh Square Rug with Traditional Modern Style. This hand-knotted wool antique Russian Karabagh rug features a striking all-over geometric pattern enclosing ...

Rug Number 28021 Size 3' 2" X 14' 2" Design Shirvan Collection Antique/Vintage Material Wool Texture Pile Weave Origin Russia Age Antique/Vintage

Finely woven early 20th century handmade Kuba rug in easy-going earthy palette.