This French Art Deco Cubist Rug, a rare example attributed to Ivan da Silva Bruhns (1881-1980), ranks among the most sought-after French Art Deco carpets. An array of overlapping geometric elements characterizes it, clearly showing the influence of avant-garde artistic trends, such as Cubism. Artistes-décorateurs often commissioned Da Silva Bruhns carpets for the luxurious interiors of the Parisian upper class.
Here, intersecting rectangular planes in tones of camel, pink and teal blue compose the field, set against a mustard yellow background. Touches of mocha accent the details and corners. The result creates a three-dimensional arrangement typical of Synthetic Cubism, expressing similarities to the contemporaneous work of Picasso and Braque, with whom Da Silva Bruhns closely associated. The pattern’s details exhibit precise execution in Da Silva Bruhns’ style, suggesting this could be a rare, unsigned piece he designed.