Vintage Swedish half pile Rug by Marta Maas Fjetterstrom BB5864 4'0" × 4'0" $5,000

This circa-1940 vintage Swedish half pile rug by Märta Måås-Fjetterström features an all-over design of triangular geometric abstractions in varying shades of blue and gray, punctuated by dark blue linear accents. The use of pile is integral to the design, using texture to bolster shape. Maas-Fjetterstrom (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 and cultural 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 and sought after in the rug world.