Mid-20th Century Vintage French Modern Handwoven Wool Rug in Shades of Beige BB5644 13'0" × 16'0" $65,000

This circa-1940 vintage French Deco rug features an interesting interplay of high and low pile in shades of beige to create both shape and structure. Together with the minimalism of the vintage carpet, the weaving style makes it a unique collectors’ find. European Art Deco owes its name to the first major exhibition of decorative arts to be held after the First World War: L’Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925. The undeniable elegance of the custom at the event has served as inspiration for interior designers the world over, delivering a dramatic change of style to furnishings in general, and early 20th century European Art Deco rugs and antique carpets in particular. Decorative arts of this period, sometimes known as the Machine Age, are characterized by a streamlined appearance.

Art Deco is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World War I. The Art Deco movement led to a fast evolution of the rug and textile design, among other art forms. Rug design evolved from traditional floral and highly ornamental to a style of angular elegance with geometric, abstract and modern figurative motifs. The design is frequently spare, geometric, and architectural. The rugs created during this period remain elegant and refined to this day.