Issues → January/February 2007 → Home & Garden →
Off the Floor: Hooked Rugs
A New England craft grows into art for the walls
by Lynn C. Van Dine
Linda Vantine's favorite rug commemorates the date of her marriage. Her mother-in-law hooked it.
Linda with daughters Carling (left) and Daphne.
This mandarin duck rug, crafted by Linda's mother-in-law, Marcy Van Roosen, adds color and intimacy to the room.
Misty rests on a kitty rug, "Taj and Sushi," hooked by Linda's sister-in-law, Judy Vantine.
Hooked rugs have moved up in the world, from the kitchen floor to the wall as works of art.
"There's a new generation of hookers whose work will never see the underside of a shoe," says Jessie Turbayne, a rug restorer and author of six books on the subject. For a growing number of hookers (yes, that's what they call themselves), "hooking is like painting. The wool is their paint and the hook is their paintbrush," says Jessie, who has a large collection of rugs in her Westwood, Massachusetts, studio.
Similar to paintings, there is now a wide range of hooked rug designs, from stark modern forms to folkloric scenes, subtle landscapes, and expressionistic self-portraits. But it wasn't always that way. Rug hooking was simply a way to use scraps of cloth too worn for even rag duty.
The hooked rug originated in the New England states and Canadian Maritime Provinces in the early 1800s. Wool, flannel, and cotton pieces were cut into 1⁄4-inch-wide strips and then pulled in loops through a stiff woven backing such as burlap. These rugs typically featured primitive motifs such as farm animals, pets, and flowers, or random stripes of color.
By the late 1800s, patterns were being stamped onto the burlap (showing the hooker what areas to fill in and in which color), allowing more complicated designs to be created and reproduced. Rug hooking became a booming craft industry over the next half-century, especially in the Northeast.
The evolution of the hooked rug from craft to art occurred as hookers began to explore and create more one-of-a-kind works. Today, these rugs have gained appreciation among collectors and interior designers.
A hooked rug -- whether an art rug or an antique -- adds color, texture, and a personal statement to a room, says interior designer Linda Vantine of East Sandwich, Massachusetts. By virtue of being handcrafted, hooked rugs add a distinct personal element to a room, she says. "It could be a family heirloom or a new design, but you know someone spent hours working on it. It's intimate."
This is true of her favorite rug -- a wedding rug designed and hooked by her mother-in-law, Marcy Van Roosen, a longtime hooker now living in North Carolina.
The rug portrays two folk figures, with the newlywed couple's initials and the date. "We stood on it for the wedding ceremony. Then I hung it over the bed. It's a new family tradition," Linda says.
Other hooked rugs in her home feature various animal and floral designs. When choosing which ones to hang, Linda keeps an eye toward color.
"They all have the same muted blue grays and greens," she says. "I'm huge fan of green."
Art rugs with bold colors and designs complement sleek contemporary furnishings, she says. "Their designs can really stand out."
Or, rugs can underscore a room's theme. For instance, Linda used antique hooked rugs at a show house in Osterville, Massachusetts. "Antique rugs have subtle colors that work well with the house's wood floors."
Some of Linda's clients have rugs custom made for their homes. "One woman had huge rugs hooked for her dining room and a sweeping staircase. She was able to choose the design, colors, and dimensions."
No matter where they are placed -- on the floor or on the wall -- contemporary art and antique hooked rugs are a great addition to any home.
Collecting Antique Rugs
The demand for antique hooked rugs has been growing over the past decade, and with that, prices and appreciation have grown, too. Hooked rugs dating to the 1800s and early 1900s command thousands of dollars. "A lot of the value has to do with the condition and the handiwork," says rug restorer Jessie Turbayne. "Victorian styles are popular, and folk rugs are always in demand." To ensure the rug you choose is of good quality, Jessie advises:
- Inspect the craftsmanship, color planning, and design.
- Do a sniff test. Many smells, such as pet urine, never go away.
- Look for holes. A few small holes may be repaired, but don't buy a rug that has more holes than rug to it.
- Avoid rugs that show signs of dry rot (a fungal rot that causes cracking and crumbling of the fibers) or mildew.
- Like any antique, buy what you like and what you can truly afford.
Hooked Rug Designers in New England
Claire Murray is known worldwide for her artful hand-hooked rugs. In scores of sizes, shapes, and colors, her rugs are available in patterns -- nautical, patriotic, floral -- sure to please. Unlike the hand-hooked rugs in your granny's house, Claire's modern creations are upbeat and very much today. She opened her first store on Nantucket Island in a historic cottage; now there are 12 other locations around New England. 11 S. Water St., Nantucket, MA. 800-252-4733, 508-228-1913; clairemurray.com
Angela Adams
Angela Adams is a self-made Maine rug designer who has wowed the world with her hip originality. A-list types such as Courtney Cox Arquette and Macy Gray own Adams's handcrafted rugs, which feature swirling graphics and unusual colors. Stop by to ogle these elegant yet playful rugs at her humble showroom and workshop and you'll see why one magazine described them as "rustic Down East meets mid-century modern and The Brady Bunch." If you can't afford a rug (they're not cheap), shop for other Adams-designed merchandise such as notebooks, handbags, and glassware. 273 Congress St., Portland, ME. 800-255-9454, 207-774-3523; angelaadams.com
Dash & Albert Rug Company
Annie Selke, founder of Pine Cone Hill, also offers a collection of brightly patterned rugs through Dash & Albert (800-557-2035; dashandalbert.com), which she created in 2003. She roams the world for inspiration in designing her lines of rugs, bedding and furniture, and pottery and tableware (through Potluck Studios). A retail showroom, The Home Store, carries all items and is the place to go when you want to give your home a makeover. Visit the outlet center next door for overstocks and seconds. 55 Pittsfield Rd., Lenox, MA. 413-637-1996; pineconehill.com
Company C
Walter and Christine Chapin started Company C in 1994 out of their home. Today, rugs of all sizes and colors bedazzle the eye at their mammoth flagship store. In addition to its vast and well-priced selection of rugs, Company C also offers furniture, antiques, lighting, and ceramics. 102 Old Turnpike Rd., Concord, NH. 800-818-8288, 603-226-4460; companyc.com
Reader Comments
Comment from Elizabeth Jones on January 7, 2008
Your link for details on the leaf peeper Quilt and Rug Show does not work.
Comment from Genevieve Kennedy on January 7, 2008
I enjoyed the rugs and mats that you showed. When I was a child growing up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, while my brothers and sisters attended school during the cold winters, my mother would sit down in front of her 'hooking rods' and spend a few happy hours working on making mats and/or rugs. By the time springtime arrived she had completed a good number of original beautiful products for home or for gifts.
Comment from Carol Fitzpatrick on January 7, 2008
I've seen rugs made of yarn - would these have the same quality?
Comment from Jo Anne Kenney on February 27, 2008
i HAVE MADE MANY HOOKED RUGS BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND DECORATIVE - I ENJOY CRAFTING THEM AND GIVING THEM - I ALSO HAVE USED MANY SOURCES BUT THE NEW ENGLAND RUGS ARE THE BEST - THEY LAST AND LOOK SO GOOD WHEN DONE
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