
Padua Persian Vintage Medallion Rug
Center Medallion Rugs
Medallion designs can be floral, abstract or geometric. Central medallions are timeless, with ancient designs still in production, and fresh, new versions appearing every season. Some versions are centered on a plain background (or empty field, as it's called in the design industry).

Brisbane Boho Vintage Medallion Rug
Other rug designs have a background of ornate pattern surrounding the medallion. Our modern medallion rugs are thoughtful updates of these classics that keep color trends in mind:

Vienna Boho Vintage Medallion Rug
Geometric Medallion Rugs
Geometric medallion designs are traditional to tribal cultures ranging from Central Asia to Morocco, as well as Native American peoples. Often the medallion is woven into the design as a repeating pattern.
There are many different geometric medallions, and in traditional cultures they usually represent plants, animals, or elements of nature. They can be difficult to recognize in a stylized rug pattern ' but we're design geeks, so we think it's fun to learn about them. Guess what? Our Sparta rug has a diamond medallion along the border that offers protection from the evil eye! The largest medallions (the ones with the spikes) represent the spiky burdock plant:

Sparta Boho Vintage Medallion Rug
In ancient times the burdock plant was believed to ward off curses, so it's often woven into kilims for protection. Burdock is also edible, medicinal, and produces beautiful flowers. The burdock medallion appearing in a rug design represents abundance.
Smaller medallions are used to fill up the central field of a rug design. They might be repeated in rows, laid out in concentric circles or even incorporated into stripes.

Istanbul Boho Vintage Medallion Rug
So the next time you're admiring a medallion rug, or a geometric pattern, keep in mind that it has roots in an ancient culture. Medallion rugs might be trendy, colorful, and stylish, but they have a story behind them too.
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