As the Christmas season and New Year are on the horizon, think of refreshing your interior with a selection of unique vintage rugs, sourced from around the world. On 21 November, Nazmiyal Auctions will be hosting a sale of antique and mid-century textiles of over 170 lots from Persia, Morocco, China, France and beyond. Here are a few of the highlights not to miss.
This antique Persian Heriz Carpet dates to 1900 and is overall in very good condition. It boasts a beautiful yellow-gold background decorated with a stylised design of palmettes and serrated leaves. Heriz carpets originate from northwest Iran, an area known for its copper deposits which means the wool from there is durable and lasts for centuries.
Also from 1900 comes this Irish Donegal carpet, designed by C.F.A. Vonsey, a British designer known for his work in the Arts and Crafts and British Art Nouveau style. This large piece, measuring 22 x 15 feet, is in a rich emerald shade and conveys Vonsey's classic designs of flattened natural motifs, like flowers or birds.
Inspired by Ecuadorian folk art and crafts, Olga Fisch, a Hungarian artist, created this 'Formas' rug in the mid-20th century. Its red, black and white colours woven into abstract geometric motifs is dynamic and eye-catching and is a bold addition to any modern interior.
Chinese pillar rugs often came in pairs of two and were found in Buddhist temples wrapped around pillars. They date to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) and were decorated with religious symbols and motifs. This particular version dates to 1900 and depicts horses against a beige background, offering a calm, idyllic aura.
From 1940 comes this French modernist carpet with an abstract design in a muted palette of greys, pinks and browns. French Cubists like Georges Valmier were inspired by these modernist art carpets, which have become popular collectibles. This particular piece comes from the collection of Edward Tufte, the esteemed Yale professor of statistics, as well as a sculptor and former gallerist.
Another modernist carpet from the collection of Tufte is this Swedish kilim by Monica Nilsson, c. 1950. In the mid-20th century, the Aesthetic movement persevered, which emphasised handmade items and rejected mass-produced pieces. Out of this came a love for traditional handicrafts, like weaving, while incorporating modern movements, like abstraction. A kilim is a flatwoven rug on a loom, meaning it is often lightweight and thinner compared to traditional rugs.
Also from Sweden comes this vintage mid-pile rug that dates to the mid-20th century. In brilliant blocks of crimson, coral and sky blue, this vibrant geometric piece is a true work of art, measuring 7 x 4 feet.
