American Rugs
By Estelle H. Ries
World Publishing Company
1950
As you can see this excellent little book has been around a while. I found it in the throw-away bin of a used book store. I’m always looking for books on rugs, carpets and tapestries, and free is my favorite price. I think I would have paid good money for this one, however. If you wish it can be found on Amazon but–as you might guess–not for free.
This little time-capsule of a book is less than 70 pages long. While the average book is usually 9×8, this diminutive beauty is closer to 7×5. It contains 61 black and white illustrations and 6 colored plates. The plain yellow cover displays a much lovelier–if slightly tattered–hooked rug. It’s short enough so you won’t get bored reading it and long enough so you might learn something about American rugs.
It starts with a discussion of rag rugs in colonial times and how the weavers of the day, primarily housewives, had to make rugs with whatever fabric presented itself: most likely rags, remnants of family clothing. It ends with a chapter titled “Modern Hooked Rugs.” The author complains that most modern hooked rugs are made “on stamped patterns…which have little in common with the improvisions and spontaneous productions, unique and unduplicated, of the individual craftsman.” Keep in mind that “modern” in this book means over half a century ago. I wonder what she would have thought about the instructional video I watched on You Tube the other day on how to hook a rug. Doubtless there are plenty of “stamped patterns” still out there, but surely there must be some “improvisions and spontaneous productions” also.