Aubusson Rugs

An Aubusson rug is a fine, flat-woven French carpet celebrated for its intricate floral patterns, graceful designs, and refined color palettes. Originating in Aubusson, France, these rugs reflect a rich heritage of craftsmanship and bring timeless elegance to both traditional and contemporary interiors.

Aubusson is a place name, not a translatable word; it refers to the town of Aubusson in the Creuse region of central France, historically famous for tapestry and carpet weaving. When people say "an Aubusson," they mean a rug or tapestry woven in that town's flat, pictorial style.

An authentic Aubusson rug is distinguished by its traditional flat weave, creating a smooth, finely detailed surface without a knotted pile, showing its pattern on the reverse side with extra yarns of the completed color. It should not be confused with a needlepoint rug, which is embroidered on canvas rather than woven on a loom. Unlike oriental rugs, there are no fringes.

Yes, well-made hand-woven reproductions are created with fine wool on a cotton foundation and are considered durable luxury floor coverings. Although flat, they are detailed and dense, making them suitable for dining rooms and lived in spaces. Antique 18th and 19th century examples are collected as investment-grade textiles and will be more delicate.

An antique Aubusson rug is identified by its traditional flat weave, fine wool, natural dyes, and period-appropriate signs of natural aging. Over time, the wool develops a softer appearance, while the colors on the reverse side often remain more vibrant. Unlike the new Aubusson rugs, the antiques may have linings sewn on the backside that add weight and security onto these rare original weavings.

Persian rugs are hand-knotted with a raised pile and feature fringes and dense, symbolic oriental patterns in rich colors, often created after folk art or recreated copies of the same designs of their respective region. A better Persian style carpet may use up to forty colors. Aubusson rugs designed by artists and architects are flat-woven French tapestry carpets, utilizing at times over 180 colors, offering a 3D perspective seldom found outside European carpet productions. The result is a smooth, detailed surface, portraying detailed yet subtle designs, usually with a softer color palette.

In short: Persian is knotted pile from the Middle East; original Aubusson is flat-woven from France, and today's new recreations from ModRen are from China and Romania.

Absolutely. Aubusson rugs continue to be sought after by interior designers and homeowners for their ability to enhance a room without overpowering it. Their enduring European appeal makes them a beautiful choice for classic and modern homes.

An Aubusson tapestry is a decorative wall hanging traditionally handwoven in Aubusson, France. Known for their exceptional craftsmanship, these tapestries often depict romantic scenes, landscapes, floral arrangements, and historical subjects. Admired for centuries as works of textile art coveted by the affluent, their heritage lives on at ModRen Rugs, where we've recreated these traditional French weaving techniques, preserving their beauty and historic artistry.

Tapestry value in the antiques comes from age, weaving fineness, condition, size, subject matter, and provenance. New hand-woven tapestries are valued on their detailed intricacy, color balance, precise weaving techniques and range of colors.

ModRen Rugs Inc. was founded in 2014, built on founder Jeffrey Soleimani's 30+ years in the antique and European rug trade, including pioneering work bringing hand-woven Aubusson production from France in the early 1990s as VP at Renaissance Carpet & Tapestries Inc.

Yes. ModRen offers in-home trials on many pieces, so you can see how a rug or tapestry looks in your own space and light before making a decision. In-home regional consultations are available, with travel that can be arranged.

Yes. ModRen works directly with interior designers and trade clients on projects of any scale, offering trade pricing and dedicated sourcing support.

New Aubusson recreations are priced similarly to today's handmade rug creations, from a few hundred dollars for the smallest up to 25K for the largest.

When referring to antique French originals, prices vary widely based on age, size, condition, and rarity, from a few thousand to tens of thousands for larger & antique originals. Antiques with provenance, 18th and 19th century, including museum quality pieces, are well into six figures.