Massive George Wells Hooked Rug

Details

Description

Massive George Wells hooked wool rug with blue ribbon and floral border. Rug has been professionally cleaned, but a few … Read more Massive George Wells hooked wool rug with blue ribbon and floral border. Rug has been professionally cleaned, but a few minor stains remain visible. These may be able to be removed with careful spot cleaning by hand.

Size: 14'4 x 13'1

George Wells purchased The Ruggery in 1956 after a career in retailing, where he designed merchandise, displays and store interiors. Wells had been hooking rugs for some time, and his abstract designs were the beginning of a new style of rug making. His work was widely exhibited and received top awards in national competitions. Wells’ innovative rug designs expanded to include the finely detailed pictorial scenes for which The Ruggery became famous. Renowned for his modern designs, Wells said he enjoyed “making untraditional designs for traditional houses.” Wells compared his work as a master rug maker to that of a stage designer. “The stage setting is the room, and the rug must suit the setting and the characters who live in that setting,” he said. “Above all, the characters must enjoy the rugs.”

Wells’ achievements included awards from the National Designer Craftsman Exhibition, New York Architectural League and American Institute of Decorators, among others. He was also an advocate for rug hooking as rehabilitation and therapy, and worked with the New York State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide instruction and materials. See less