Since the rising of Modern Interior Design, at the beginning of the XXth Century, we’ve seen how as, an unexpected match, Mid Century Modern Style and rustic oriental rugs have come along a very successful journey together.

Mid Century Modern with its clean-cut lines, minimalism, and experimental approach uses the ancient magnetism of rustic oriental rugs, with its strong materials, skillful craftsmanship, and a decided functional design, to create unique combinations, where the Barcelona Sofa presides. 

Let’s take a closer look at the fascinating world of rugs.

Used since immemorial times by royalty and commoners (already in the 5th BC Century mentioned the beautiful rugs made by the people of the Caucasus), rugs provide us of isolation of the bare floor, as their primal function. Besides, they soften our footsteps in spaces overcrowded with people. These are enough good reasons to keep always a fine rug close below our feet, but additionally, the visual impact of fine rugs with their patterns, figures and shapes, and the texture and sensation under our feet,  is enormous in the end.

There are many different traditions in the art of rugs, in different parts of the world. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Moroccan Rugs

The type of rug more associated with Mid Century Modern style, Moroccan rugs were taken to the American and European attention by Le Corbusier and Alvar Alto, in their personal homes. They meet the ancient art of rugs by the people of Beni Ouarian, in Moroccan at the time it became a French overseas protectorate. Their main characteristic is its charming rusticity, made of undyed hand-knotted wool, generally with very simple geometric patterns (lines, squares, of brown and black color), mainly in a cream base. There is no doubt that the clean-cut lines of a black leather Barcelona Sofa are well balanced with this combination. 

Afghan Rugs

With very complex designs, they use to present  Herodo ancient tribal designs, with lots of details and colors, like the Bukhara, the octogon shaped foot of the elephant. Colorful, red is very abundant in this beautiful type of rug. 

Armenian Rugs

According to the historian Herodotus, expert Armenian rugs create beautiful rugs already in 5th Century BC. It’s believed that the Pazyryk carpet, excavated from a frthozen tomb in Siberia, is the first rug ever discovered. Very colorful, their primal motifs were animals: Dragons, eagles and serpents. 

Persian Rugs

By far the largest world producer of rugs, the Persian rugs have an ancient history of beauty, tradition, and complex designs. Due to the Islam rules, their motifs are mainly arabesques, vineyards, clouds, and geometric figures. They are mainly of wool, though there are some beautiful silk examples. 

If you want to see your Barcelona Sofa along with the best rug, go to Manhattan Home Design, the best alternative for Mid Century Modern furniture and masterpieces like the Barcelona Sofa.