Vintage rugs on RMS Titanic and other luxury transatlantic ships
The grandeur of the transatlantic ocean liners of the 1920’s and 1930’s was best translated into the superb carpets adorning their first-class cabins. The so-called Art Deco liners were the most memorable of the great ships of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Emphasis was placed on Art Deco as the avant-garde style of the era.
Art Deco design on ocean liners before WWII, particularly on ships like the SS Normandie and RMS Queen Mary, reflected a luxurious and forward-looking aesthetic that mirrored the excitement of the Machine Age and the Jazz Age. The rugs were rich in decorative elements.
The well-known RMS Titanic was designed a bit earlier, in the very early 20th Century, during the Edwardian period, and was more influenced by traditional styles such as neoclassicism, Georgian, and Louis XVI. The Art Deco style became prominent about a decade after Titanic’s sinking.
Despite its catastrophic maiden voyage from the 1912, the Titanic continues to be viewed as a lasting symbol of unrivaled luxury. Not only was the Titanic revolutionary due to its colossal size and innovative propulsion system, but the interior of its upper decks was also designed and decorated to appeal to the sophistication level of society’s more affluent upper classes. It was designed to be the ultimate expression of comfort and efficient transatlantic travel.
To ensure that the Titanic and other transatlantic ships of the era would be able to set the standard for luxury, the constructor spared no expense in furnishing the interiors. This was done with the aim of attracting Europe and North America’s most high-profile individuals. The interiors featured lavish dining areas, luxurious lounges, and extra comfortable first-class cabins to make the ship the symbol of elegance on the water.
Intricate wood paneling and molding, plush beds and sofas, dazzling curtains and other textiles, and exquisite oversized rugs, cabin rugs, and stair runners, all made passengers feel as if they were in a high-class establishment, rather than on a ship at sea.
While the Titanic was emblematic of an earlier age, the shift to Art Deco on later liners reflected broader social changes, technological innovation, and a fascination with speed, glamour, and modernity. The luxury liners were floating showcases of contemporary design trends and embodied the spirit of progress and luxury of their times. Doris Leslie Blau is proud to offer a curated selection of rugs from that magnificent era.
