Vintage Swedish Rug BB5417 5'10" × 9'1" $11,000

This circa-1940 vintage Swedish rug features geometric abstractions in alternating shades of bright and light blue against an abrashed brown field. The modernist geometric design relies on the juxtaposition of bright and muted color, as well as geometric simplicity to create an artistically enticing final product. Carpets and rugs have been handmade from knotted wool in Sweden for centuries; rugs woven in the traditional Oriental manner were originally brought to Sweden over trade routes as early as the early Middle Ages. Eventually, Swedish rug-makers would begin to use Oriental rug-making techniques while incorporating themes and motifs more consistent with the artistic and cultural heritage of Sweden. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the craft was seen as being an important artistic and cultural practice throughout Sweden, and designers began to make rugs that had a broad international appeal. Scandinavian rugs from the mid-twentieth century remain among the most desirable and sought after in the rug world.