Vintage Turkish Borlou Blue and Beige Hand Knotted Wool Rug BB8437 13'2" × 20'1" $80,000

This circa-1920 antique Turkish Borlou rug features an intricate center medallion design in blue, containing the herati pattern and various abstractions, against an abrashed beige field. A blue border with scrolling vines and pomegranate imagery completes the look of the antique carpet. The Turkish carpets are distinguished from other Oriental styles by particular characteristics of dyes and colors, designs and textures. Antique Anatolian rugs feature the Turkish, or symmetrical knot and are typically made of wool and cotton. Distinct types of antique carpets, including the Borlou, have been woven since the 13th century in workshops, provincial weaving facilities, as well as in villages, tribal settlements or by nomads. It is believed that a tribe known as the Seljuks, nomads from Central Asia, were the skilled weavers responsible for these early masterpieces.