Hooked Rug

Dateca. 1885

MediumWool and cotton on a bast (likely jute) ground (fiber identification by Textile Lab)

DimensionsOverall (H x W): 144 x 168in. (365.8 x 426.7cm)

Credit LineGift of the John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, Fund, Inc., through the generosity and interest of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, and members of the family.

Object number1996.BH.442

DescriptionThis room-size, rectangular hooked rug is made of woven (and some knit) strips of wool and cotton on a jute (burlap) backing. The pale pink pile is cotton. The hooked design features naïve flowers and leaves on a tan ground, surrounded by three borders. The interior design centers around a grouping of four pink and white roses over bunches of leaves. The surrounding flowers are scattered without pattern across the tan background, and are hooked in shades of blue, yellow, pink, purple, red, and green. The inner portion is separated from the various borders by a row of large, abstract flowers, possibly meant to resemble sweet pea flowers. The innermost border has a blue-green ground beneath vine with leaves and berries. The next border is another vine, hooked in shades of pink, purple and red, surrounded by dark green. The final border has two rows of offset red and green triangle separated by white zig-zags.
Label TextHooked rugs are made by hooking yarn or strips of fabric through a base fabric. Though the history of this rug indicates production in Waldoboro, Maine, most people would not classify it as a Waldoboro rug, which has come to mean a sculptural hooked rug with a linen base.
ProvenanceMade by unknown maker, Waldoboro, Maine;
By descent to his/her grandson, Windsor Bush, Massachusetts;
Sold to The Downtown Gallery, New York City;
Sold to Abby Aldrich Rockefeller for use in Bassett Hall, 1936;
Given to CWF, 1979.