This column first appeared in the June 18, 2011 issue.
Those of us who love American antiques are quick to pay homage to the potters, wood craftsmen, and ironsmiths of the past. But if it were not for the frugal, self-sustaining nature of the American housewife, many of our beloved forms of antiquity would never have come into existence. Hand-dipped candles, quilts, samplers, painted china, and needlepoint are among her contributions. But one of the most endearing of the domestic art forms left for us by these tireless women are the beautiful hook rugs they created.
The origin of the hook rug is uncertain, but it is a commonly accepted theory that the hook rug in America began in New England as a table, or bed “rug” in the late 1700s and matured into a full size floor covering by the first part of the 1800s. Few of these early examples are known to have survived, those that have been found are believed to have not been used as floor covers, but rather for decorative purposes in the parlors and sitting rooms of the more affluent.
Before 1825, cotton was in short supply in New England. America was at the mercy of the British Acts of Trade, making much of the raw cotton produced in the U.S. exported to England for processing and then imported back as yardage. Consequently, early rugs were done on a background of hand-woven linen, or an old shawl or blanket. The materials for the hooking were common household materials, such as old linens or the remnants of worn garments.
The motif of a rug is often an indicator of age. Early rugs are often reminiscent of the crewelwork bed hangings of the mid-seventeenth century, with flowers and foliage surrounding a tree as the center design. Scenes of the European homeland and Pennsylvania Dutch rugs featuring farm animals and heart shapes were also common pre-1825 designs. By the second quarter of the 19th century geometric forms replaced the floral ones, and mid-19th century rugs often featured a combination of both floral and geometrics.
The quality and aesthetic appeal of early hook rugs is varied. Without patterns to follow the rugs were totally the invention and drafting of the hooker. Balance and form depended on the drawing skill of the rug-maker, and the hooking varied from fine, almost needlework quality, to very coarse.
In 1850, E. S. Frost commercialized the art of rug hooking by introducing canvas backgrounds with stenciled designs. First operating in Maine and later in Boston, Frost prospered by selling his patterns to New England housewives. Today’s collectors watch for these “Frost” rugs which are referred to by the original stencil numbers. It is not uncommon to find these rugs, from 1850-1876, both dated and initialed.
The American public lost interest in hooked rugs by the end of the 1800s. On occasion, in rural areas of the U.S., the art of rug hooking is still practiced out of necessity. However, these newer hooked rugs are usually of very crude quality and are of little interest to collectors.
The integrity of the construction is a major concern in buying hook rugs. Color and the desirability of the pattern are also significant determinants of value, and any piece that is dated is a good investment. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com