Antique Framed Hooked Rug, Brown With Yellow Bird Pictorials - Rug & Kilim

Details

Description

This 2x3 antique hooked rug is an exceptional addition to Rug & Kilim's collection of American hooked rugs and folk … Read more This 2x3 antique hooked rug is an exceptional addition to Rug & Kilim's collection of American hooked rugs and folk art designs—an fabulous find among early 20th century avian-themed pictorial work of its provenance, made with hand-hooked wool and originating within the United States circa 1920-1930.

On the Design:

This hooked rug showcases the perennial American fascination with songbird motifs through its delightful design of two yellow birds perched on crossed branches. Admirers of the craft will appreciate the sophisticated contrast achieved by placing these cheerful golden birds against a deep, rich background of variegated browns and blacks that creates a dramatic nocturnal or woodland setting. The birds face each other in charming dialogue, creating a sense of communication and companionship central to the piece's emotional appeal. The colorway demonstrates thoughtful restraint in the field, allowing the buttery yellow birds to stand as vivid focal points, while introducing complexity through the multicolored border.

This distinctive edge treatment features a lively sequence of small vertical stripes in cream, rust, green, blue, and black—creating a frame that enhances the central design while adding significant decorative interest. The strategic placement of cream-colored stylized flowers in the corners provides visual anchors that balance the overall design. This rug represents an important category in American textile traditions—pieces that celebrated the natural world through accessible imagery that brought the outdoors into the domestic sphere.

Condition:

This antique hooked rug has been given a new canvas backing—exclusively for wall-hanging purposes as a tapestry, in its current state—and further enjoys an overall good condition with some mild wear consistent with its age and provenance. See less