Deco Carpet by Ivan da Silva Bruhns BB6326 10'0" × 15'0" $50,000

This rug is a true masterpiece of Ivan da Silva-Bruhns, a French-Brazilian painter and decorator extraordinaire. An innovative pattern, much simpler than ones popular at that time, was inspired by the works Art Deco movement, beloved by the artistic bohemians of Paris. The carpet’s design is composed of two separate elements – a fretted pattern on the top, made of perfectly planned lines, and two checked squares. This simplicity is in fact a brave artistic statement of de Silva, who rebelled against norms imposed on artists by their clients. Warm copper brown, which he chose as the main color, gives this carpet a homely aura, contrasting with the bare harshness of the thick black lines. Combined together, all those elements create an elegant rug, with a soft pile and superb quality.