Arraiolos - Teppich - 395 cm - 250 cm - Arraiolos rug, Portugal

Aubussan style, needlepoint technique, virgin wool.

The carpet/rug was in use, but no significant signs of use.

Arraiolos carpets (Tapetes de Arraiolos) originated in the town of Arraiolos, Portugal, in the 16th–17th century, influenced by Moorish and Persian carpet designs. Unlike woven rugs, they are hand-embroidered in wool using a distinctive cross-stitch on a linen or cotton canvas.

For centuries, these carpets were traditionally made at home by local women, often for family use or small local sale. Because they were domestic, artisanal works, they typically did not carry labels, signatures, or maker’s marks. Each carpet was valued for its craftsmanship and pattern rather than for a branded origin. As a result, the absence of a sticker or tag is normal and historically consistent, especially for older or privately made pieces. The same applies to this carpet, making us believe that it was completed by a local woman in the beginning/middle of the 20th century.

Only in the 20th century, when workshops, cooperatives, and commercial production became more common, did labels, stamps, or certificates start to appear.