Futurist North and South American Rugs

A vintage American rag rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 6" x 5' 8" North American rugs & carpets: North American has never developed a unified handmade rug tradition, but rather it is the unassimilated confluence of several. From Mexico comes the Saltillo serape wearing blanket, and this stimulates the Navajo and Rio Grande (Colorado) weavers, first as blankets, then as rugs. The thrifty habits of rural America gave rise to the New England (and Western Canadian) hooked rug types, while the farmers of the Midwest recycled their disused garments into braided and rag rugs. The closest to a real ongoing tradition are the Southwestern (New Mexican) Navajo rugs. By the 1860s the native tribes were weaving wearing blankets with wool from the Spanish churro sheep. These were in stripe design, with combinations of undyed wool with cochineal reds and indigo blues. The multi-phase “Chief’s Blankets” from the 1870s-80s are a natural outgrowth of these. Machine spun red wool from Germantown in Pennsylvania appeared in the 1870s with a bright red hitherto unobtainable. The weavers loved it and blankets appeared with bright reds, generally aniline, in “eye dazzler” patterns. Anglo traders established posts beginning in the 1890s. Navajo weavings were perfect accompaniments not only for Western-themed decors, but for East Coast apartments, only they needed to be thicker and more rug like to be truly accepted. The traders brought Caucasian and Turkish village rugs to copy, borders were introduced and central medallions devised. The weavers continued to create on vertical looms, with a shared warp (dovetailing) weft structure to avoid slits. The warps were cotton string. Sizes were generally scatters, but occasionally a special order came in, hence antique room size Navajos are very rare and very pricey. Distinct village/pueblo styles developed. Among the best are: Two Grey Hills (considered the tightest, closest of all Navajo weaving), Crystal Springs, and Ganado. Certain new patterns such as the “Storm pattern” with jagged lightning bolts emanating from a dark cloud developed. The Yei rug with dancing Kachina doll figures became popular. The palette has been expanded beyond the classic grey, tan, dark brown, and cream natural wool combination to again include reds, blues, and greens. Navajo pictorials include American flags, trains, and automobiles, domestic and local scenes and scenery. Individual artist weavers now command gallery shows and correspondingly elevated prices. There are several levels of Navajo work, and antique and vintage scatters with simple flat designs, medium weaves, and tritonal palettes, and in good floor worthy condition are still available reasonably. The Native American weaving tradition extends into Colorado with two-piece scatters with sharp sawtooth medallions and striped end borders, with wool tapestry weave on cotton warps. These descend from the Saltillo blankets...

74352, antique American floral hooked rug with English Chintz style. Drawing inspiration from Mario Buatta, Chintz style and design ...

Antique American Hooked rug featuring colorful pictorial village scene, rug s12-0806, country of origin / type: United States / Hooked, circa 1920 This American Hooked rug depicts...

Ingenious in style, color and composition, the features in this spectacular, antique American Hooked rug create an illusion of depth and texture. The beautifully colorful checkerboard pattern plays like a stain glass that incorporates a multitude of colors and the geometric design. This stunning hooked rug is a joy to behold as it illustrates the amazing versatility of simple yet elegant patterns, which are executed in a way that is full of color, texture and visual appeal. Measures: 2'11'' x 4'4''. Checkerboard vintage...

This colorful American Hooked rug depicts a variety of vines and blossoming flowers in an assortment of colors extending throughout the light orange and tan background. The colors in...

American Hooked rug create an illusion of depth and texture. The beautifully colorful checkerboard pattern plays like a patchwork quilt that incorporates a multitude of colors and ge...

​78662 Rare Antique Southwest Modern Rug, 02'00 x 02'00. A radiant testament to the evolving design language of the American Southwest, this antique handwoven wool rug embodies a rar...

This 21st-century Indian flatweave Dhurrie rug, measuring 9' 4" x 12' 3", features a bold yet timeless geometric design. The composition consists of alternating horizontal stripes in...

Following the fashion in the U.S.A. for French Aubusson and Savonnerie carpets at the turn of the previous century, workshops were commissioned to weave hooked rugs in this style. Th...

A vintage American folk Hook rug in a small room size format handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 7' 10" x 9' 10".

A vintage American Hook carpet from the second quarter of the 20th century. Measures: 7' 10" x 8' 7"

Beautiful colorful Indian Agra hand knotted wool rug with a center medallion floral design on a beige field. This rug has a multi-color accent throughout the piece. This rug measu...