Vintage Samarkand (Khotan) Rug BB4376

An early 20th century Samarkand kilim rug, the golden yellow field with staggered hooked-device roundels and half-roundels with rosettes scattered in between within an abrashed red flowering vine border.

“Vintage” is a ubiquitous term frequently applied in the world of rugs and carpets. Vintage rugs are quite often confused with antique rugs. The difference between the two is often ambiguous. Just what is vintage and what is antique? To clarify this quandary, vintage carpets and antique runner rugs are defined by the time they were designed and crafted; they’re generally made after 1920. On the other hand, antique carpets come from a time before then, so, generally, they were made more than 80 years ago. Age is a primary distinguishing factor, but even this a fluid one.

The dividing line changes as time goes by. For example, a vintage area rug will someday be an antique. Vintage carpets and rugs are often linked to the origins of Modernism, so they can be more accurately placed in this category, given the association with the cultural, philosophical, and artistic elements of this movement