Ukrainian Russian and Scandinavian Rugs

Ukrainian and Bessarabian carpets are typically flat-woven, as this was a tradition imported in the early 18th century from France by Peter the Great, who is said to have opened vari...

A very rare Ukrainian pile rug woven with a pattern characteristic of Aubusson and Savonnerie French carpets. Carpets such as this one were woven at a time when the classical French style was extremely in favour among the Russian aristocracy, who decorated their homes with period French furniture...

Bessarabian rug USSR, 20th century Handwoven.

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims w...

A vintage Russian Bessarabian flat-woven rug from the mid-20th century.

A beautiful early 20th Century Scatter Size Besserabian kilim Measures: 3'7" x 6'10".

This traditional hand-woven Romanian Bessarabian rug has an inviting beige field of sparse stylized floral sprays and blossoming vases, in a ...

Antique Indian Rugs – Not all the rugs that were woven in India are easy to categorize. That is why we created this antique Indian rugs section. Here you will find Indian rugs of whi...

Needlepoint rugs were created using the traditional needlework weaving technique that is used to make everyday items from furniture to carpets and artwork. However, it has a fascinating history both as a hobby and as an industry. When many people think of carpets, they think of pile carpets or flat weave kilims, but needlepoint has also been used to create beautiful carpets. These carpets are durable and an important part of carpet history. Archaeologists and scholars consider the roots of needlepoint to have been around 1500 BC. They consider the first needlepoint to include the fine diagonal stitches that were used to sew tents together by the ancient Egyptians. The art eventually evolved into tapestry weaving. However, a tapestry weaving differs significantly from needlepoint in that it uses a loom and vertical warp. Tapestry weaving is closer to the weaving of kilims and pile rugs than canvas work. However, some still include tapestry weaving in the category of needlepoint because of the fine work that appeared during the late Renaissance. It can have a similar appearance to the untrained eye. Technically, tapestry weaving and needlepoint are not the same, and they do not use the same technique. The first actual needlepoint rugs and needle-points began to appear in the late Renaissance. Needlepoint is worked by creating stitches on a stiff canvas. The canvas is typically made from jute or linen and is quite durable. Pieces from the Renaissance were used to cover footstools, chairs, pillows, bed headboards, and other furnishings. They were also used as table coverings and wall coverings. You could also find them on many small items such as purses, shoes, and various adornments for clothing. During the Renaissance, the craft reached a high level of skill, and the designs became incredibly detailed and realistic. They mimicked many of the subjects and styles of famous paintings of the time. They created florals, still life designs, scenes, and geometric tiled pieces. Some of them mimicked the designs found in Persian Carpets. Needlepoint reached its peak popularity in the 19th century when it was considered a proper occupation for a lady. Needlepoint and embroidery held a similar place in societal status at the time. During this time, the work became finer, with some of the canvas reaching a high level of detail. The level of detail is determined by counting the number of mesh in an inch. During this time petit point by French needlewomen could have a mesh count as high as 45 mesh. This allowed women to create highly intricate designs with incredible levels of detail. It is possible to find many antique pieces of needlepoint besides rugs. Needlepoint rugs were popular in France and Spain, where the technique was adapted to create highly intricate designs that mimicked the designs in architecture and fashion. They were popular because they were durable, and it could be fashioned into a variety of items. The canvases themselves were durable, and the wool that they used was also strong, which means that many of the pieces were able to withstand daily use. We have many artifacts that have survived from this time period. Needlepoint rugs are important collectibles because they are different from the pile rugs and kilims that are typically found on the market. Needlepoint carpets are special because they take many hours to create, especially larger works. Needlepoint pieces of any type became popular throughout Europe during the 19th century. It is still a popular hobby today, but perhaps one of the most interesting stories is that of the Portuguese needlewomen of Arraiolos. The story of these women and their beautiful carpets begins in 1492. Needlepoint was a popular occupation in Spain, which had a large population of Moors and Jews. They were an integral part of Spanish culture. However, in 1492, Queen Isabella of Spain issued a proclamation that gave these ethnic groups the order to pack their bags and board ships headed...

Antique Turkish Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey since the beginning of the Ottoman period. Historians attributed to them many of the great masterpieces of early Turkish...

An antique Bessarabian flat-woven kilim from the Balkan provinces in excellent, original condition measuring 9' 3" x 6' 1".

Made with handwoven wool, this 14x20 oversized rug is an exciting new addition to Rug & Kilim’s Scandinavian rug collection—a contemporary reimagining of Swedish minimalism and vinta...