Egyptian Hand Knotted Abstract Runner by Karim Rashid

Thin lines dip and swell, and the floor seems to breathe.

This hand knotted abstract runner comes from Egypt, North Africa, ca. 2005, designed by Karim Rashid and made of wool. Egypt has long been home to skilled hand-knotting workshops, and contemporary designers such as Rashid have turned to them to give graphic ideas the depth and softness of a pile rug. Dark wavering lines cross a near-white field from side to side, bending into a series of soft pools along the length. A signature sits near one corner. Just over nine feet long and thirty inches across.

Walking on it feels slightly presumptuous.