Mid-20th Century French Modern Blue Handmade Wool Rug BB7561 7'2" × 14'0" $5,000

This solid blue vintage French Modernist area rug is a bold statement representative of a definitive and daring art movement. The social upheaval and industrialization changes of the 20th century spawned an abstract, innovate form of art that inspired both fashion and home decor. The simple yet daring look of this vintage carpet is evocative of some of the greatest contemporary works of modernist art, from Kazimir Malevich to Barnett Newman (think “Black Square” or the primeval “Onement VI” on display at Sotheby’s in New York).

In France, avant-garde fashion designers such as Pierre Cardin contributed their innovative style to textiles as well. Decorative arts of the European Deco period, sometimes known as the Machine Age, are characterized by a streamlined appearance; this vintage French European deco rug is representative of mid-century modern design.

Art Deco is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World War I. The Art Deco movement led to a fast evolution of the rug and textile design, among other art forms. Rug design evolved from traditional floral and highly ornamental to a style of angular elegance with geometric, abstract and modern figurative motifs. The design is frequently spare, geometric, and architectural. The rugs created during this period remain elegant and refined to this day.