Antique c.1900s American Hand-Hooked rug, Roses & Acanthus Scrolls, Folk Art, 2'6" x 4'3" (79cm x 131cm) - 1B998

A charming and characterful antique American hand-hooked rug, made circa early 1900s — a direct expression of the great folk art tradition of New England and Mid-Atlantic domestic textile making, in which skilled hands transformed strips of wool into richly patterned floor coverings of enduring beauty and warmth.

The design follows one of the most beloved formats in the American hooked rug canon: a warm golden-ivory field at the center, animated by a generous central bouquet of deep magenta and crimson roses — their petals rendered in the bold, graphic shorthand of the folk art tradition, outlined in black against the pale ground. Teal-blue leaves and stems radiate outward from the bouquet, and a delicate butterfly hovers nearby — a motif of lightness and transformation that appears frequently in American hooked rugs of this period.

Surrounding the central floral group, a vigorous acanthus scroll design fills the field and border zone with sweeping, curvilinear energy. The scrolls are worked in a rich, muted palette of olive green, warm taupe, chocolate brown, and terracotta, each form outlined in deep black that gives the composition a bold graphic clarity reminiscent of stained glass or woodblock printing. The outer border is a solid deep charcoal binding, providing a clean, strong frame that anchors the composition.

The rug is worked in the classic hand-hooking technique: strips of wool pulled through a burlap foundation with a hook, creating the characteristic looped texture that gives the surface a tactile warmth and visual depth no machine-made rug can replicate.

American hooked rugs of this quality and age are increasingly recognized as significant folk art objects, collected by museums and private collectors alike. Ideal as an accent rug, fireplace rug, or wall hanging.

Details

• Type: Antique American hand-hooked rug / folk textile
• Style: American Folk Art — Floral & Acanthus Scroll
• Origin: United States (New England / Mid-Atlantic tradition)
• Period: c. 1900s (approx. 120 years old)
• Material: Wool strips on burlap/linen foundation
• Technique: Hand-hooked
• Design: Central rose bouquet with butterfly; acanthus scroll surround; solid charcoal border
• Color palette: Golden ivory, deep magenta/crimson, teal blue, olive green, taupe, chocolate brown, terracotta, black
• Dimensions: 79 cm × 131 cm (2’6” × 4’3”)

Condition

Good for age. Honest pile flattening and light edge fraying (disclosed). Colors vivid and structure intact throughout.