Antique Aubusson French Medallion Cream Beige Hand-Knotted Silk Rug – Circa 1800 BB8955 7'3" × 8'9" $85,000

This antique French Aubusson rug, woven in silk around 1800, reads as a refined table carpet from the Louis XVI era. Rooted in the celebrated Aubusson weaving tradition, it combines aristocratic elegance with the decorative softness that made French antique rugs so enduringly desirable.

The cream beige field centers on a formal medallion crest, outlined in soft blue, rose, and red, then surrounded by scrolling acanthus, leafy sprays, and delicately handled floral motifs. A restrained border hierarchy frames the composition without crowding it, allowing the open ground to preserve a sense of air and balance. The palette feels light yet vivid, with forest green and clear blue adding freshness to the warmer brick red accents.

Because the ornament is distributed with such symmetry, the rug brings structure to a room while still feeling graceful and relaxed. Its painterly floral design and low-relief clarity suit layered traditional interiors, but it also offers an elegant counterpoint in transitional spaces. As a hand-knotted silk Aubusson rug, it brings the quiet sheen and decorative finesse collectors associate with antique French textile art.

Part of Doris Leslie Blau's grand collection, this antique rug embodies the rich heritage and refined craftsmanship that define the world's most exceptional carpets. Established in 1965, Doris Leslie Blau has earned an international reputation for curating rare and important rugs spanning centuries of design history.