DepartmentTextiles-United States & Canada

Hooked Rug (Central Asian carpet design)

NameHooked Rug (Central Asian carpet design)

Artist Artist Not Recorded

CultureAmerican

DateLate 19th or early 20th century

Place madeUnited States, North America

MediumWool, silk, synthetic fabrics

Dimensions84 × 60 in. (213.3604 × 152.4003 cm)

Credit LineGift of Janis B. Wetsman

Object numberA.2023.1.1

Collections

New Acquisitions: The Gift of Folk Art

ProvenanceHooked rugs purchased from Marna Anderson, a folk art dealer in New Paltz, New York. The lion rug was purchased on September 9, 1997; the oriental carpet themed rug was purchased on May 26, 1998.

DescriptionA 5 x 7 foot rug that clearly draws inspiration from various Asian sources combined idiosyncratically. The overall design mimics the stepped arch of a Muslim prayer rug, but also incorporates Chinese auspicious seals reading “Good Fortune” (fu 福) and “Long Life” (shou 壽), which is rendered upside-down, so likely copied. Design also depicts two rows of sideways diamonds in yellow, orange, and off-white with circular flowers on the inside of the diamonds.