Vintage French Art Deco Brown and Beige Wool Rug by D.I.M. BB4794 7'10" × 11'2" $40,000

Of the Art Deco rugs in the Doris Leslie Blau collection, this particular example has a wonderfully expressive overall curvilinear pattern that gives this vintage rug a great vitality despite its simple brown and beige color palette.

“Vintage” is a ubiquitous term frequently applied in the world of rugs and carpets. Vintage rugs are quite often confused with antique oriental rugs. The difference between the two is often ambiguous. Just what is vintage and what is antique? To clarify this quandary, vintage carpets and European Art Deco 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 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.