Medallion Pattern

A large enclosed portion of a design is usually located in the center of the field. Common shapes are diamonds, octagons, ovoids, hexagons, and stars. Medallions may be lobed or stepped. Where there is a single central medallion, quarters of that medallion may be used as corners or spandrels in the rug. There may be several medallions or parts of medallions in rug designs.

Medallions are somewhat less common in tribal rugs than in urban rugs. Some of the medallion designs of Ottoman and Safavid court rugs are similar to contemporaneous designs of bookbindings. One theory holds that the designs of the earliest medallion court rugs were derived from book bindings.

Rugs with medallion patterns can add a unique twist to your living space. A medallion is a pattern placed in the center of a symmetrical rug. In most cases, the medallion is in complete symmetry with the rest of the pattern on the rug. Every piece of the pattern is usually symmetrical in relation to the medallion.¹