Unique Handmade Antique Hooked Rug with Unusual Colors in Very Good Condition 74” X 45”.

This large rectangular hooked rug looks as though it comes from the 1940s but it could well be earlier. The dark jewel tones used in the rug are very special and make for an elegant yet casual look. The rug is heavy and the pile, substantial. There are no noticeable flaws - no pulls or tears, although there is one small area in the beige background near an edge with the start of a hole less than 1” in diameter and not going through all the way to the back (photo 6). This could be very easily sewn.

Comparing photo 1 of the front of the rug and photo 2 of the back shows not much difference between the front and the back, suggesting careful use and handling over time with little fading.

The outermost border is narrow and black with a narrow beige border next, then a lovely, imaginative wide border of hooked leaves and stylized scrolls in burgundy, purples, greens and other colors found in the floral center. It is quite outstanding and different from the very structured scroll and lead borders in later patterns like this of Pearl McGown in the 1950s-60s.

The fact that the nice beige background, bordered with a wide scroll pattern in dark muted neutral colors makes the center floral medallion stand out. The center has a loose but dense display of stylized purple, gray blue and lavender flowers with gold touches and gray-green, yellow-green and blue-green leaves. There are three colors of beige - a lighter beige, a tan and a taupe color, a gray brown as background colors. These make a nice contrast with the pink, burgundy, gold, lavender, purple and blue flowers swirling atop them.

This rug is in very good condition.

The design and colors are quite unusual. Photos from early children’s books are included here to show the stylized treatment of flowers reminiscent of this rug (photos 11 and 12).

While some wear should be observed in places all around the rug, given its age, there are actually very few places of wear visible on the face. The binding tape is in good shape. This is a lovely rug with a very interesting design and color scheme. It will last long and wear well.