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LARTA, The London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair, is the UK’s only specialist event for fine textile art, antique carpets, vintage rugs and exceptional weavings from around the world. The Fair returns for its annual staging from 21-26 January 2020, held on the mezzanine at the Winter Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair in Battersea Park, London.

This year, LARTA has more exhibitors than ever, and several new participants: Villa Rosemaine, one of France’s most important dealers in museum-quality antique textiles, costume and iconic couture; Bertram Frauenknecht of Istanbul exhibiting early and rare eastern tribal rugs; Emily’s House London with vintage Moroccan carpets, Berber rugs and ethnic kilims, and Oriental Rug Gallery of Haslemere offers rare rugs and textiles alongside beautiful Islamic works of art.

Returning to the Fair is Ornamentum Ltd with fine antique Persian carpets and rugs, furniture and decorative art, joining regulars such as Hakiemie Rugs Ltd, specialist in tribal weavings, Peta Smyth Antique Textiles with European textiles of the C16th to C19th and textiles from further afield intended for the European market, and Galerie Arabesque of Stuttgart, with specialist expertise in Balouch and Turkoman pieces, kilims and textiles, Asian works of art and other artefacts.

Between the 18 experienced dealers at the Fair, buyers can choose from an unparalleled array of woven works of art and textile treasures. For the floor, find rugs and runners of every shape and size, and in a fabulous range of styles from different cultures: deep pile mats and room-sized rugs from China and Tibet; traditional, richly-coloured carpets from Persia and the Caucasus; flatweave stripes and boldly-patterned kelims from Turkey and Morocco.

Embellish any area of a room with embroideries such as suzanis, tapestries, decorative textiles and cushions, wall-hangings, costume and adornment. Smaller furnishing items from associated traditions can also be found: inlaid Damascene tables, traditional enamel and silver, ethnic carvings and metalwork from India, and beautifully-worked leather goods from Eastern and Asian cultures.

Currently on-trend are Swedish flatweave rugs in pretty ice cream shades, folk art carpets bedecked with animal and botanical motifs, flame-edged ikat patterns, and stripes: in kelims, dhurries from India and durable jajims from Persia (used as covers and storage bags in nomadic homes).

Admission to LARTA is free with a leaflet or invitation: join the mailing list at LARTA