79388 Vintage Swedish Rollakan Rug by Ulla Schumacher, 05'08 x 07'05.
The Modernist Bloom Sonata: A Swedish Rollakan Masterpiece of Nordic Abstraction
Woven in the golden age of Scandinavian Modernism, this exceptional vintage Swedish rollakan—signed by the noted textile designer Ulla Schumacher (“US”)—embodies the alluring fusion of Nordic restraint and artistic daring. Its presence alone suggests a cultivated eye: the kind of heirloom that quietly telegraphs connoisseurship while elevating the surrounding architecture. Schumacher’s work is coveted precisely because she distilled the Scandinavian ethos into something fresh, urbane, and unapologetically modern. Here, every detail reflects that signature refinement.
Across the surface, sumptuous vertical bands in espresso brown and muted taupe create a serene architectural rhythm, a subtle nod to the pared-back sensibilities of postwar Sweden. Floating atop these stripes, Schumacher’s stylized blossoms—rendered in unexpected tones of ochre, plum, paprika, and rose—rise like bold, cubist petals. Their angular contours and crisp white outlines recall the era’s fascination with abstraction, yet their composition remains warm and deeply human. Then come the cool strokes of turquoise: linear branches, geometric roads, and quiet interruptions. They act as the visual “pulse” of the piece, giving the entire textile a light, almost musical tension.
The sophistication of this rollakan lies in the way it blends organic beauty with mathematical discipline. Schumacher’s playful checkerboard borders in grey, ivory, and a single jolt of ruby red anchor the composition with confident modernist flourish. Everything here is intentional. Everything is balanced. The design feels both mid-century and entirely current—an effect only truly masterful Swedish weavers were able to achieve. As a result, the rug reads less like a floor covering and more like a textile painting, the sort of work that could hang in a museum of mid-century decorative arts.
Pieces of this caliber do not surface often, and when they do, they tend to disappear into private collections. This is a rollakan for the buyer who values rarity wrapped in understatement—someone who recognizes the exquisite harmony between color, geometry, and handwoven craft. Whether placed in a light-filled living room, a sculptural modernist entry, or a sophisticated library, this Schumacher-signed textile brings an immediate sense of worldly refinement and quiet luxury. It is, simply put, a treasure of Swedish design.
- Designed by Ulla Schumacher.
- Signature Lower Corner Initials US.
- Abrash.
- Handwoven wool.
- Made in Sweden.
- Measures: 05'08 x 07'05.
- Pile Height: 0.13 of an inch.
- Date: 1960's. Mid-20th Century.
