Arts and Crafts Donegal Rug by C.F.A. Voysey BB7849 11'0" × 12'8" $60,000

A masterful example of the Arts and Crafts movement, this rare Irish Donegal rug designed by C.F.A. Voysey in the 1920s captures the movement’s deep reverence for nature, craftsmanship, and integrity in design. Woven by hand in the famed Donegal workshops of Ireland, the rug is both a decorative and historical treasure, epitomizing Voysey’s singular ability to merge stylized organic motifs with an architectural sense of structure.

At the heart of this composition is a symmetrical, grid-like arrangement of stylized pomegranates, tulips, and floral tendrils rendered in a warm autumnal palette of burnished orange, golden saffron, soft peach, and muted moss green. These colors—subtly mottled with age—form a harmonious interplay that balances vibrancy with restraint, perfectly reflecting Voysey’s aesthetic philosophy.

The background is a soft celadon green field, which serves as a calming counterpoint to the lush floral elements, allowing the strong botanical motifs to emerge with clarity. Each motif is meticulously outlined, creating a sense of depth and form that suggests both medieval tapestry and modern abstraction.

The border, framed with a continuous stylized garland of upright blooms, provides a striking sense of enclosure, enhancing the rhythm and repetition of the central field. The precision and restraint of the design echo Voysey’s architectural background, with the ornamental qualities never overwhelming the clarity of composition.

Executed in a dense hand-knotted wool pile, the rug remains remarkably vibrant and structurally sound, a testament to the quality of Donegal production and the enduring power of Arts and Crafts design.

This piece is not only a floor covering—it is an artifact of a movement that sought to restore dignity to design through handcraft and natural beauty. It would be an extraordinary centerpiece in a sophisticated interior, particularly one sympathetic to the principles of early 20th-century design, Art Nouveau, or modern organic minimalism.

Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (1857 – 1941) was an Irish architect and furniture, rugs, and textile designer in the Arts & Crafts style.

This rare piece from the Doris Leslie Blau Collection exemplifies superior artistry and tradition. Doris Leslie Blau offers a broad and varied pricing spectrum, accommodating collectors and designers across a range of budgets—from modest vintage finds to rare, museum-worthy masterpieces.