Rare Antique Bukovina Rose Kilim, Hand-Woven Wool Rug, First Half of 20th Century, 325 x 165 cm

A rare, genuinely old Bukovina kilim, hand-woven from wool in the first half of the 20th century — one of a kind, and increasingly hard to find.

Woven by hand in Bukovina, northern Romania, between roughly the 1900s and the 1940s, this large kilim belongs to the golden age of Romanian rural weaving, when rugs like this were made in village households on wooden looms, entirely from wool. Today, pieces of this age, scale and quality rarely come onto the market.

The design is a bold, romantic composition: a monumental bouquet of roses in vivid red and crimson sits at the heart of the rug, flanked by leaves in ochre, cream, grey-green and mauve. A generous border of roses and stylized foliage frames the field, all set on a deep burgundy-aubergine ground. The stepped, "pixelated" outlines are typical of the flatweave technique, where every curve is built stitch by stitch — a charm no industrial rug can reproduce. The warm, slightly variegated tones of the wool reflect its age and hand-dyed origins.

Details

• Origin: Bukovina, Romania
• Age: first half of the 20th century (antique / early vintage)
• Material: 100% wool
• Technique: hand-woven flatweave (kilim)
• Dimensions: 325 x 165 cm (approx. 10'8" x 5'5")
• Condition: good vintage condition, with the natural patina of more than 80 years of life
• Rarity: one-of-a-kind piece, no two are alike

Why it is special

Old Bukovina floral kilims in a large format are scarce: most were worn out through daily use, and few survive with their colors and composition so intact. This one is a true collector's piece, and also a wonderful long-term investment for anyone who loves authentic folk art and textile heritage.

How to use it

Dramatic as a floor rug in a living room, dining area, bedroom or hallway, or hung on a wall as a tapestry. Its warm, rich colors suit rustic, bohemian and eclectic interiors, and give a modern space real character and depth.

Care

Vacuum gently or dry clean; avoid vigorous rubbing. Keep away from prolonged direct sunlight and moisture.

As a hand-woven piece that is many decades old, slight color variations, small irregularities in the weave and signs of age may be present — they are a mark of authenticity. Please see all photos for details of the actual piece.