Vintage Swedish Rya Rug BB5989 4'8" × 6'10" $5,000

This circa-1940 vintage Swedish rya rug features an all-over design of curving abstractions in bright green, beige and varying shades of brown, bringing to mind fallen leaves. Simple yet elegant, the mid-century vintage carpet is a unique piece of the Swedish vintage textile tradition. A rya is a traditional Scandinavian wool rug with a long pile of about 1 to 3 inches. They were created using a form of the Ghiordes knot to make the double-sided pile fabric. The first ryas originated in the early fifteenth century as coarse, heavy covers used by mariners instead of furs. As time progressed, the rugs have evolved to be lighter and more colorful. Each knot is composed of three strands of wool, which enables the carpet to exhibit rich texture from all the different shades of color.