Swedish Beige, Brown and Blue Handmade Rug by Märta Måås-Fjetterström BB6006 6'8" × 10'0" $24,000

This circa-1930 vintage Swedish pile rug by Märta Måås-Fjetterström, titled “Skriftlösa” (“loosely written”), features an all-over design of intriguing rounded geometric abstractions in alternating shades of blue and brown against a field of light green. A white border outlined in thin red lines adds to the starkness of the modernist carpet. Måås-Fjetterström (1873-1941) was a leading figure in Swedish textile design, with a workshop known for producing well-composed rugs incorporating traditional Swedish and modern motifs. In Sweden, carpets and rugs have been hand-knotted in wool for centuries, taking on many different forms and functions over the course of time. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the craft was seen as being an important artistic practice throughout Sweden, and designers began to make rugs that had a broad international appeal. Scandinavian rugs from the mid-twentieth century remain among the most desirable in the rug world.