1920s American Hooked Cotton Rug
This handmade American cotton rug dates to circa the 1920s and features a lively scattering of autumn leaves. Its warm cream field supports individual leaves and branching sprays in an unusually varied botanical composition. A broad scrolling foliage border gives the design a strong, balanced frame.
Rich burgundy, rust and orange sit beside dusty pink, sage green and ivory. Dark outlines define the leaf shapes and pick out their veins. The pale ground allows these small colour changes to remain distinct across the length of the rug.
Autumn Leaves and Scrolling Foliage
The central design combines rounded leaves, pointed lobes and longer compound sprays. Pink and sage branches create larger areas of colour among the smaller motifs. Their loose arrangement gives the composition movement without relying on a central medallion.
Some leaves use several shades within a single outline, while others appear as simpler silhouettes. Cream accents brighten the darker motifs. These variations give the surface a gently animated quality, like collected leaves arranged across a pale background.
The surrounding border is more structured than the field. Large ochre-brown leaves curl inward along each side, their shapes emphasised by dark brown outlines. Small cream botanical details fill the corners within a narrow, dark outer frame.
Hand-Hooked Cotton Texture
Closely worked hooked loops give the cotton surface its tactile character. The cream field shows directional changes and subtle tonal variation. These small irregularities soften the outlines and distinguish the surface from a flat printed textile.
The rectangular format measures approximately 185.3 × 96.6 cm, equivalent to 6.08 × 3.17 feet. Its elongated proportions carry the leaf arrangement naturally from end to end. The substantial border keeps the scattered motifs visually contained.
Condition
Good antique condition overall, with uneven surface wear, tonal variation and localised thinning. Faint linear marks and areas of discolouration remain visible in the cream ground. The edges show wear and slight waviness, consistent with the rug’s age.
The darker perimeter has rubbing and irregularities in the hooked surface. Variations in loop height and density are visible on closer inspection. These characteristics remain part of the rug’s present condition.
Key Details
Date: Circa 1920s
Origin: United States
Material: Cotton
Technique: Handmade, hand-hooked
Design: Scattered autumn leaves and compound foliage sprays
Field: Warm cream
Border: Scrolling ochre-brown leaves with dark outlines and cream corner details
Colours: Cream, ivory, burgundy, rust, orange, dusty pink, sage green, ochre and brown
Shape: Rectangular
Dimensions: Approximately 185.3 × 96.6 cm / 6.08 × 3.17 ft
Condition: Good antique condition with uneven wear, thinning, marks, tonal variation and slight edge waviness
SKU: 1B1056
Why It’s Special
The appeal lies in the contrast between the freely scattered leaves and the strongly framed border. Its autumn palette offers warmth without overwhelming the pale field. Place it beside a bed, beneath a console or in a quiet sitting area where the botanical detail can be appreciated.
