Decortype › Rugs & Carpets › Flatweaves & Kilims

Scandinavian rya & rölakan

Europe tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: Under $500 (entry level & living craft)

A rya or rye is a traditional Scandinavian wool rug with a long pile of about 1 to 3 inches. They are made using a form of the Ghiordes knot to make the double-sided pile fabric. Though rya means "rug" in English, the original meaning in Sweden of rya was a bed cover with a knotted pile. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Carpet (Known as a "Ryijy" or "Rya")
Carpet (Known as a "Ryijy" or "Rya"), 1701/25
Art Institute of Chicago
Carpet known as a "Ryijy" or "Rya"
Carpet known as a "Ryijy" or "Rya", 1798
Art Institute of Chicago
Rya
Rya
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Rya kyrkoruin 08
Rya kyrkoruin 08
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Rya kyrkoruin - KMB - 16000200060983
Rya kyrkoruin - KMB - 16000200060983
Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings → Nazmiyal CollectionAntique-rug specialist, New YorkBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.