Skip to main content

Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

STEAMPUNK STYLE

Steampunk style places emphasis on the bespoke, the recycled and the handmade, as well as high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Steampunk fans also share an interest in the industrial and in machines, especially steam-powered ones.

As a design concept, steampunk can feel elusive. Unlike movements such as Arts and Crafts or American Craftsman, which are rooted in specific historical periods, steampunk combines an imagined past with the present and sometimes even the future.

In the late 1980s, writer K. W. Jeter coined the term steampunk to describe his science-fiction stories, which were set in an idealized version of Victorian London. Since that time, steampunk has evolved, emerging as a design style and a subculture.

Since the mid-1990s, steampunk-styled settings and interiors have become popular in mainstream films such as Sherlock Holmes (2009) with Robert Downey Jr.; Van Helsing (2004), which starred Hugh Jackman; or the Will Smith vehicle Wild Wild West (1999). These movies present a contemporary version of the Victorian past. Steampunk elements, such as dark walls, industrial lighting, brass fittings and Edison bulbs, have also been featured in the designs of numerous restaurants.

When talking of steampunk, design professionals often emphasize the style’s industrial elements. Interior designer Stephen Shadley particularly likes steampunk’s inclusion of factory-style light fixtures. “The elegant simplicity of those fixtures, a white or clear glass shade on a brass base, the bakelite switch. They’re beautiful and functional,” he says. “Here, form follows function almost completely.”

One of the appeals of steampunk lies in its oppositions: domestic versus industrial, refined and polished versus coarse and gritty, Victorian versus new, fantasy versus reality. Because it is up to the individual designer to develop the right steamy mix, you will find a large range of steampunk looks.

A steampunk interior can appear much like the Victorian drawing room in your imagination — stately, restrained, proper — while at the same time containing contemporary comforts and conveniences. Another steampunk-style room can look more theatrical, much like the lair of a mad scientist. And, of course, objects with high steampunk quotient, such as brass light fixtures or Victorian scientific instruments, can add charm and interest to almost any set up.

Steampunk, by combining antique and contemporary and repurposing industrial items, offers a fresh way to enjoy Victorian style.

Find steampunk-style wall decorations, lighting, decorative objects and more on 1stDIbs.

to
2
Width
to
Length
to
9
18,313
4,223
4,046
2,144
585
372
230
229
155
115
111
87
87
48
46
17
9
1
1
2
9
9
1
9
9
9
9
6
6
5
5
2
Style: Steampunk
Zabihi Collection Dazzling Color Vintage Tulu Rug
Located in New York, NY
A 3rd quarter of the Century Turkish Tulu shag rug with bright funky colors. 3'5'' x 4'4''
Category

20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Distressed Vintage Overdyed Skull Rug Inspired by Alexander McQueen
By Wunderkammer Studio, Alexander McQueen
Located in Dallas, TX
80432, Distressed Vintage Skull Steampunk Style Area Rug Inspired by Alexander McQueen 09'08 x 12'05. Showcasing an expressive design with artful craftsmanship and incredible detail, this hand knotted wool distressed vintage overdyed skull rug...
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Dazzling Color Vintage Tulu Rug
Located in New York, NY
A 3rd quarter of the Century Turkish Tulu shag rug with bright funky colors. 3'8'' x 4'8''
Category

20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Vintage Shag Turkish Runner
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Turkish shag pile runner in yellow and soft brown 2'10'' x 9'8''
Category

20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Vintage Shag Turkish Runner
Vintage Shag Turkish Runner
$1,280 Sale Price
20% Off
Spider Persian Kilim Wall Hanging
Located in New York, NY
Scatter size Persian Kilim from the late 20th century with a happy go lucky colorful Spider on a beige field This was originally belonging to a private Persian collector who reque...
Category

Late 20th Century Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Vintage Mini Size Rag Rug
Located in New York, NY
a mini-size American Rag rug from the late20th century Measures: 2'1'' x 3'9''.
Category

Late 20th Century American Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Vintage Turkish Tulu Rug
Located in New York, NY
A 3rd quarter of the Century Turkish Tulu rug 2'7'' x 3'2''
Category

20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Vintage Tulu Rug
Located in New York, NY
A 3rd quarter of the Century Turkish Tulu shag rug with bright funky colors. 3'7'' x 4'7''
Category

20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Silk American Rag Runner
Located in New York, NY
United States, Early 20th Century A rare silk and wool American Rag rug Runne with a polychrome striated line pattern overall Measures: 3'4'' x 9'4''.
Category

Early 20th Century American Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool, Silk

Related Items
Vintage Persian Shiraz Pictorial Rug, Wall Hanging, Persian Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
75045 Vintage Persian Shiraz Pictorial Rug, 03’08 x 05’02. Persian Shiraz pictorial rugs are a distinctive type of Persian rug crafted in the region surrounding the city of Shiraz in...
Category

Late 20th Century Persian Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Distressed and Overdyed Handmade Persian Tabriz Rug
Located in New York, NY
This 21st century creation consists of an antique Persian Tabriz rug handmade during the early 20th century that was scraped and overdyed to produce a distressed appeal. Although the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Persian Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Mid-20th Century Handmade American Rag Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage American rag rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 6" x 5' 8" North American rugs & carpets: North American has never developed a unified handmade rug tradition, but rather it is the unassimilated confluence of several. From Mexico comes the Saltillo serape wearing blanket, and this stimulates the Navajo and Rio Grande (Colorado) weavers, first as blankets, then as rugs. The thrifty habits of rural America gave rise to the New England (and Western Canadian) hooked rug types, while the farmers of the Midwest recycled their disused garments into braided and rag rugs. The closest to a real ongoing tradition are the Southwestern (New Mexican) Navajo rugs. By the 1860s the native tribes were weaving wearing blankets with wool from the Spanish churro sheep. These were in stripe design, with combinations of undyed wool with cochineal reds and indigo blues. The multi-phase “Chief’s Blankets” from the 1870s-80s are a natural outgrowth of these. Machine spun red wool from Germantown in Pennsylvania appeared in the 1870s with a bright red hitherto unobtainable. The weavers loved it and blankets appeared with bright reds, generally aniline, in “eye dazzler” patterns. Anglo traders established posts beginning in the 1890s. Navajo weavings were perfect accompaniments not only for Western-themed decors, but for East Coast apartments, only they needed to be thicker and more rug like to be truly accepted. The traders brought Caucasian and Turkish village rugs to copy, borders were introduced and central medallions devised. The weavers continued to create on vertical looms, with a shared warp (dovetailing) weft structure to avoid slits. The warps were cotton string. Sizes were generally scatters, but occasionally a special order came in, hence antique room size Navajos are very rare and very pricey. Distinct village/pueblo styles developed. Among the best are: Two Grey Hills (considered the tightest, closest of all Navajo weaving), Crystal Springs, and Ganado. Certain new patterns such as the “Storm pattern” with jagged lightning bolts emanating from a dark cloud developed. The Yei rug with dancing Kachina doll figures became popular. The palette has been expanded beyond the classic grey, tan, dark brown, and cream natural wool combination to again include reds, blues, and greens. Navajo pictorials include American flags, trains, and automobiles, domestic and local scenes and scenery. Individual artist weavers now command gallery shows and correspondingly elevated prices. There are several levels of Navajo work, and antique and vintage scatters with simple flat designs, medium weaves, and tritonal palettes, and in good floor worthy condition are still available reasonably. The Native American weaving tradition extends into Colorado with two-piece scatters with sharp sawtooth medallions and striped end borders, with wool tapestry weave on cotton warps. These descend from the Saltillo blankets...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Yarn

Shag Pile Mohair Rug. Made of Natural Undyed Mohair Wool. Custom Options Avail.
Located in Spring Valley, NY
A Hand-knotted shag pile rug made of natural undyed mohair derived from local “Angora Goats” that are famous for their soft, lustrous long fleece. The rug is made-to-order and cust...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool, Mohair

Vintage Pink Distressed Overdyed Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
Vintage 1945 Persian overdyed rug. This piece has a field that was dyed bright pink, and has a visible border details and a medallion in the centre. Measures 9.01 x 12.06.
Category

1940s Persian Vintage Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Vintage Navajo-Style New Mexico Chimayo Blanket Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
78790 Vintage New Mexico Chimayo Rug, 03'01 x 05'00. New Mexico Chimayo wool rugs made by Ortega's Weaving Shop are handcrafted textiles celebrated ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Vintage Navajo-Style New Mexico Chimayo Blanket Rug
Vintage Navajo-Style New Mexico Chimayo Blanket Rug
$599 Sale Price
20% Off
W 37 in L 60 in
Vintage American Hook Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage American Hook carpet from the second quarter of the 20th century. Measures: 7' 10" x 8' 7"
Category

Mid-20th Century American Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Fabric

Vintage American Hook Rug
Vintage American Hook Rug
$5,000 Sale Price
20% Off
W 94 in L 103 in
Vintage All-Over American Hooked Rug with Large Flower Design
Located in Atlanta, GA
This colorful American Hooked rug depicts a variety of vines and blossoming flowers in an assortment of colors extending throughout the light orange and tan background. The colors in...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

1950s Hand Knotted Green Runner from Turkey
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage hand knotted rug runner from Eastern Turkey, Middle Eastern Asian carpet, circa 1960. Size: 3ft 9 in x 6ft 5in. Traditional Turkish fl...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

New Colorful Contemporary Turkish Tulu Shag Area Rug Inspired by Sonia Delaunay
By Sonia Delaunay, Robert Delaunay
Located in Dallas, TX
51866, new colorful contemporary Turkish Tulu shag area rug Inspired by Sonia Delaunay. This hand knotted wool contemporary Turkish Tulu shag area rug with Postmodern style showcases...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool, Angora

New Contemporary Tulu Shag Rug Inspired by Judy Chicago & Georgia O'Keeffe
By Judy Chicago, Georgia O'Keefee
Located in Dallas, TX
51863, new contemporary Tulu Shag rug Inspired by Judy Chicago & Georgia O'Keeffe. This hand knotted wool contemporary Tulu shag area rug with Postmodern style features a bold all-ov...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool, Angora

Vintage Distressed Overdyed Tabriz Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
A vintage distressed overdyed Tabriz rug with an all-over design. This rug measures 10'0" x 13'5".  
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Previously Available Items
Persian Animal Kilim Wall Hanging
Located in New York, NY
Scatter size Persian Kilim from the late 20th century with a lion sitting on a beige field Measures: 3'3'' x 3'9''. This was originally belonging to a private Persian collector...
Category

Late 20th Century Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Giraffe Persian Kilim Wall Hanging
Located in New York, NY
Scatter size Persian Kilim from the late 20th century with a sad giraffe on a green field. Look at those boots though! This was originally belonging to a private Persian collector...
Category

Late 20th Century Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Distressed Vintage Turkish Dark Charcoal Rug with Industrial Steampunk Style
Located in Dallas, TX
60697 Distressed Vintage Turkish Dark Charcoal Rug with Industrial Steampunk Style. Defined and raw combined with luxe utilitarian appeal, this distres...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Distressed Vintage Turkish Area Rug with Modern Industrial Steampunk Style
Located in Dallas, TX
60683 Distressed Vintage Turkish Area Rug with Modern Industrial Steampunk Style. Defined and raw combined with utilitarian appeal, this distressed ove...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Part Silk and Wool Antique Mysterious Samarkand Khotan Rug
Located in New York, NY
Exotic part silk and wool Samarkand or Khotan rug in array of colors. Part of the rug is woven with silk along both borders. We are guessing the weaver didn'...
Category

Early 20th Century East Turkestani Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool, Silk

Vintage Turkish Yastik Rug in Orange Color
Located in New York, NY
Vintage plush pile Turkish Yastik rug in predominant orange.
Category

20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Vintage Turkish Oushak Brown and Chartruese Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Turkish Oushak rug in unique colors.
Category

20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Vintage Turkish Flat-weave Kilim Rug with Steampunk Modern Industrial Design
Located in Dallas, TX
74138 Vintage Turkish Flat-weave Kilim Rug with Steampunk Modern Industrial Design. This handwoven vintage Turkish Kilim rug is a beautiful marriage of modern Industrial and fresh, c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool, Goat Hair, Hemp

Vintage Tulu Shag Rug
Located in New York, NY
A Mid-Century Turkish Tulu shag rug with bright funky colors.
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Steampunk Rugs and Carpets

Materials

Wool

Vintage Tulu Shag Rug
Vintage Tulu Shag Rug
W 43 in L 50 in

Steampunk rugs and carpets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Steampunk rugs and carpets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage rugs and carpets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include rugs and carpets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wool and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Steampunk rugs and carpets made in a specific country, there are Asia, West Asia, and Caucasus pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for rugs and carpets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $675 and tops out at $7,920 while the average work can sell for $2,000.

Recently Viewed

View All