A Rare Antique Needlepoint

This antique Arraiolos rug from Portugal is a masterpiece of the needlepoint technique. Pure new wool was embroidered in cross-stitch onto a firm linen ground, in painstaking handwork, to recreate the timeless elegance of the French Aubusson style. A midcentury jewel and a collector’s piece, it is the ideal choice for representative rooms that pair historical charm with a subtle, modern palette.

The Arraiolos Tradition

Arraiolos rugs are world-famous for their distinctive technique, cultivated in Portugal since the 15th century. Unlike knotted rugs, the design is embroidered onto the ground stitch by stitch, producing a flat, tapestry-like structure reminiscent of historical French tapestries. The result is a sustainable work of art made from natural materials — a piece that unites durability with European cultural history.

Aubusson Floral Design

The composition follows the classic Aubusson style: a central floral medallion of roses and garden flowers, framed by scrolling acanthus leaves and ribbon-tied bouquets in the corners. The light, airy palette gives this large-format piece an almost floating aesthetic, the hallmark of the finest European salon carpets.

Wool & Linen

The piece is worked entirely in 100% pure new wool embroidered onto a linen ground. The flat needlepoint structure is hard-wearing and beautifully even underfoot, and it pairs naturally with both period and contemporary interiors.

Colour

The palette is soft and luminous: an elegant beige ground carries the floral drawing, with gentle accents of light blue and a discreet rose, touched by green foliage and warm golden highlights. The colours have mellowed gracefully with age, lending the rug a calm, collected depth.

Presence in the Room

At 450 × 325 cm (14.63 m²) this is an exceptionally generous room-size piece — a true 11 × 15 ft format:

• Living room: a commanding centrepiece for a large, representative seating arrangement.
• Dining room: ample room for a grand table and chairs to rest entirely on the rug.
• Bedroom or salon: a collector’s piece that brings European elegance and history to a spacious room.

Specifications

Responsible Origin · Label STEP

As an antique, pre-owned piece worked in natural materials this is a sustainable choice — wool is a renewable fibre and no new resources were used to make it. Djoharian is a certified partner of Label STEP, the international fair-trade organisation for hand-made rugs.

Djoharian — Since 1967

Our family business was founded in 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran — more than five decades of trade and connoisseurship. Djoharian has been a Recognized Dealer on 1stDibs since 2013, and one of our rugs featured as a prop in the film Spencer (2021). Every collector’s piece is chosen with an expert eye and offered with full confidence in its authenticity.

Service

Every piece is expertly inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main and shipped with a certificate of authenticity. Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured, with personal consultation in our showroom or by video call.