Painter and rug designer Ivan da Silva Bruhns is widely recognized for his spare but provocative Art Deco–style area rugs and carpets.
Born in 1881 in Paris to Brazilian parents, da Silva Bruhns studied biology and medicine before serving as a doctor during World War I. Following the end of the war, he instead focused on pursuing an artistic career.
During the early 1920s, da Silva Bruhns met several important Art Deco artists of the period, including designer and ensemblier Jules Leleu. He soon developed his own Cubist style in his art — akin to that of Pablo Picasso — which characterized many of his oil paintings.
By the 1920s, da Silva Bruhns became deeply interested in non-Western art, particularly rug weaving traditions and the visually dazzling Berber carpets found in Morocco. He’d first come into contact with Berber textiles at an exhibition of Moroccan art that was staged at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, in 1917. Moroccan rugs date back to the Paleolithic era, when Berber tribes, which comprised many different members of an ethnic group native to North Africa, would weave these textiles with intricate images and symbols.
Da Silva Bruhns’s skills in weaving were largely self-taught — he learned about textile artistry by unraveling rugs that were created in the Eastern world in order to study and understand their structure. With time, he eventually mastered the practice of hand-knotting carpets, using the technique associated with the Savonnerie manufactory.
Da Silva Bruhns’s works soon garnered critical acclaim. At the 1925 L’Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes — the large art fair that introduced the Art Deco style to the world — he was awarded a Grand Prix. His rugs were also featured at the Paris Exposition Coloniale. During this period, da Silva Bruhns opened a workshop in Savigny-sur-Orge and had established showrooms in Paris. He partnered with the likes of Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Louis Majorelle, and was a designer at Leleu’s firm.
Throughout the 1930s, da Silva Bruhns became known for his decorative rugs. Among his most important commissions was in 1931, when he designed the carpets for Manik Bagh (Jewel Garden) — the Palace of the Maharaja of Indore. By then, his rug designs often featured one or two bright colors, bold lines and sprawling, overlapping geometric patterns. His eye-catching carpets could also be found on several luxury ocean liners such as SS L’Atlantique, SS Ile-de-France and the SS Normandie.
Although the production of da Silva Bruhns’s carpets ceased during World War II owing to a lack of sales, his rare paintings and rugs are highly sought after today by interior designers and collectors of Art Deco design.
On 1stDibs, find a range of antique Ivan da Silva Bruhns rugs and wall decorations.
Rare Set of Two Framed Oil Paintings by Ivan da Silva Bruhns
By Ivan da Silva Bruhns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare set of two small framed oil paintings by Ivan da Silva Bruhns, (Paris, 1881-Antibes, 1980). Unique works. Signed. Each panel is 9 in. wi...
Glass, Wood
Rare Set of Two Framed Oil Paintings by Ivan da Silva Bruhns
By Ivan da Silva Bruhns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare set of two small framed oil paintings by Ivan da Silva Bruhns, (Paris, 1881-Antibes, 1980). Unique works. Signed. Each panel is 9 in. Wi...
Glass, Wood
Rare Set of Two Framed Oil Paintings by Ivan da Silva Bruhns
By Ivan da Silva Bruhns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare set of two small framed oil paintings by Ivan da Silva Bruhns, (Paris, 1881-Antibes, 1980). Unique works. Signed. Each panel is 9 in. Me...
Glass, Wood
Expressionist Tactile Botanical Oil on Canvas Painting Framed
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An exquisite example of this artist's traditional take on still-life realism, and a masterpiece in its own rite. This floral painting represents the artist's awe for botanical and floral scenes as well as his or her adept knowledge of tactile painting. With broad sweeping strokes and high texture, the artist paints a portrait of a small circular Ombre deep blue vase, filled with creamy white ranunculus or buttercups with berry color centers, green eucalyptus and small accents of white hydrangea. Oil on canvas. Framed roughly in a small wood frame, with gilt painted accent inside. How we would display: A botanical painting will forever bring a certain feeling of femininity and softness to a room. This piece would be wonderful displayed in a space with too many harsh lines. Alternatively, we suggest hanging this as part of a grouping of other floral portraits on a large wall to add interest. Another favorite of ours for art is to display pieces on their own in a bedroom. Such as a guestroom or child's room. Hung just above a nightstand (we currently love the idea of using a bombe chest), and just above a table lamp, (perhaps a lamp with a Caprani...
Gold
$1,144 / set
H 14.25 in W 16.25 in D 14.25 in
Antique Still Life Fruits Oil on Canvas English Oil Painting Giltwood Frame
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine quality example of an elaborately framed English Still Life of fruits Oil Painting on canvas, in the style of Oliver Clare or Eloise Harriet Stannard, second qu...
Canvas, Giltwood
Antique Framed Impressionist Oil Painting on Board
Located in Houston, TX
Antique framed impressionist oil painting on board. Lovely artist signed antique framed impressionist oil painting on board. This beauty d...
Masonite
$2,100 / item
H 18.5 in W 18.5 in D 1.5 in
Two Acrylic on Canvas Paintings of Flowers by Dale McFeatters
By Dale McFeatters
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury flower paintings executed with acrylic on canvas in a bold vibrant style, titled Buttercup and Trout Lilly. Signed McFeatters an...
Aluminum
"The Solo Violinist" a Fine Oil on Canvas by Luigi Da Rios
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine Italian oil on canvas titled "The Solo Violinist" by Luigi Da Rios (Italian, 1844-1892), depicting an interior 18th century room scene of a single violinist player; withi...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood
$8,350
H 31 in W 28 in D 4 in
19th Century Giltwood Framed Oil Painting of a Middle Eastern Street Scene
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian (19th Century) oil painting of a Middle-Eastern street scene in an ornate, carved giltwood frame (signed).
Giltwood, Paint
Set of Three French Chinoiserie Framed Canvas Paintings
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Magnificent set of three French oil on canvas paintings made in the chinoiserie revival period of 19th century, Europe. The center painting feature...
Canvas, Wood
One of Two Framed French Painted Paper Panels
Located in Antwerp, BE
Two framed wall panels with flower decorations. Height: 155 cm Width: 58 cm. Price per item.
Wood, Paper
Dutch street scene oil painting in graceful frame signed Nijland
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A group of people gathers for typical Dutch buildings. In the distance you can see a stone arch bridge. Nijland has perfectly captured the charm of the 19th-century Netherlands in th...
Canvas
$1,380
H 32.5 in W 44.5 in D 2.25 in
Home and Landscape Framed Oil Painting of Santa Fe, New Mexico of Medium Size
Located in Atlanta, GA
A medium sized oil painting by American artist Paul B. Wilson. This is a lovely painting depicts a Spanish Colonial style homestead and surrounding landscape in Santa Fe, New Mexico....
Canvas, Wood
$14,818
H 50.79 in W 38.59 in D 3.35 in
Flemish School, Painting of Madonna and Child, Oil on Panel, Framed
Located in Leuven , BE
This lovely 17th century painting was made in the last part of the European Renaissance period, also known as the high renaissance, late 17th century. This scene depicts the Madonna with her Child...
Paint
$985
H 24.41 in W 31.5 in D 1.38 in
Early French Oil Painting Of Notre Dame Cathedral In Faux Bamboo Frame, Paris
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th century oil painting of Notre dame cathedral and Paris, seen from the seine river. With its original faux bamboo frame, signed "Rienzi".
Canvas
Sold
H 21.46 in W 24.81 in D 0.79 in
"Mzimou" Oil on Panel by Ivan Da Silva-Bruhns, Art Deco, 1927, France
By Ivan da Silva Bruhns
Located in Paris, FR
Oil on panel (plywood) by Ivan da Silva-Bruhns (1881-1989), titled "Mzimou" and annotated on the back, signed bottom left corner, dated 1927 bottom right corner. Dimensions: with frame: 54.5x63x2cm, without frame: 38x46cm Mzimou is generic term for a favourable spirit or divinity in the lake Tanganika region to whom local population used to present offerings to get protection in particular from illnesses. Ivan da Silva Bruhns reinvented the art of carpet design in the 20's and adapted it to the art deco style. His work is influenced by the geometric berber ethnic carpets...
Plywood
Ivan da Silva Bruhns Painting
By Ivan da Silva Bruhns
Located in Encino, CA
Ivan da Silva Bruhns, (1881-1980) Oil on board depicting a kind of tribal sculpture Signed lower left and dated 1930? 1950?? Ref: Opus Nº2527 titled "Le Guetteur" "The Watchman",...
Paint
Ivan Da Silva Bruhns Painting
By Ivan da Silva Bruhns
Located in Encino, CA
Ivan Da Silva Bruhns (1881-1980) Oil on board depicting a portrait 1974 Signed lower left Dated 1974-1975 on the back Measurements: H. 18" x W. 15" without frame H. 24"1/2 x W. 21"...
Paint