Vintage Swedish Geometric Flat-Woven Wool by Anna-Greta Sjöqvist BB5686 5'2" × 8'0" $18,000

Swedish flat weave rug with geometric design in red, green and yellow. The narrow yellow border bares the initials of the textile artist: RGS.

Although the majority of people associate carpets with certain shagginess, flat weave antique rugs constitute a substantial part of the profound weaving heritage. Flat, hand-woven vintage area rugs have widely contributed to the development of rug-making techniques as they represent one of the basic forms of woven textiles. They are made without a pile and build upon the intertwining warp and weft. The simplicity and lightness of flatweaves mustn’t be taken for a sign of inferiority. On the contrary, the slightly simplified making techniques allow weavers to create ingenious pieces, often with an ethnic vibe, distinguished by appealing designs and incredible durability.