Handcrafted
"ruggs" were used to cover beds for warmth, cover table tops
or hearths, for decoration and purpose. They can be found in very large sizes
showing wear.
Is that an
indication that they were walked upon or just well used on beds, tables,
chests, and hearths?
Earlier
pieces done on burlap are difficult to find in good condition, as burlap can
break down over many years of storage. A large piece of wool was seldom used
as a backing because it was too precious. Not all penny rugs were made up of
circles. An appliquéd pattern depicting things like animals,
people, primitive shapes, flowers, homes, and festive scenes, have come
to be known as penny rugs.
Where did handcrafted
penny rugs originate? Settlers may have brought rugs and techniques with them
from their European homelands.
Excellent
examples of antique penny rugs can be found in the following publications
and
articles.
American Hooked and Sewn Rugs, by Joel and Kate Kopp, the sewn rugs found on page 123 through 130 are wool stitched on wool,
cotton, or linen.
They date
from 1835 to early 1900.
Quilts, Coverlets, Rugs & Samplers by Robert Bishop. The two appliquéd rugs in this book are on pages 296 and 297. Both
are described as wool on wool.
A quote
from the Bishop book; “Hints for Collectors. This unusual rug is in good
condition and would make a fine addition to any collection. Rugs made before
1850 are fairly rare, since many homes had no textile floor coverings well
into the 19th century. Made for tabletop or chest, rugs like this
were never walked on. Therefore, they are usually in good condition.” Then,
referring to the second featured rug, Bishop goes on to say “Few such
elaborate early 19th century rugs were made, and of those, even
fewer exist today. Not within the means of most collectors, a piece like this
is very expensive.”
Quoting
from Ami Mali Hicks, her book The Craft of Hand Made Rugs, published
in 1914. Page 53 The Scalloped Doormat or Tongue Rug… “It’s tongue-shaped
unit or scallop is cut out of odds and ends of woolen cloth, and sewed on a
burlap foundation. These scallops should never be made of cotton as cotton
does not wear well with this treatment. The more closely woven the fabric of
which the scalloped doormat is made, the more serviceable it is. Loosely
woven cloth is apt to fray. Old bits of broadcloth are a satisfactory
material to use.” Does Ami refer to woolen broadcloth in her day as what we
have come to know as cotton broadcloth?
In October
1952 for a Popular Science and Mechanics magazine,
Eleanore Engels
writes
about using old hats.
In this article Eleanore describes making
rugs that would be used for floor covers.
“For these rugs, use either felt or
extra-heavy woolen fabrics
(broadcloth or flannel) which don’t tend
to ravel, or a combination
of felt and fabric. You can use lighter
weights if you sandwich 2
or 3 layers of cloth together to give
proper thickness. You can use
all new felt, obtainable by the yard in
72 in. widths, from
department stores or mail-order houses;
combine it with salvaged
materials, such as old hats, discarded
billiard and pool table
coverings, old college pennants and
blankets, industrial felts (from
paper mills), and scraps left from the
manufacture of athletic goods
such as jackets and bowling shirts. (Try
Salvation Army store,
Goodwill Industries and rummage sales for
old hats.) Don’t use fur
felts or tissue felts—they are too soft
to be durable under foot.”
***
When
researching you will find that some rugs have decorative edging, done with
elongated pieces resembling the shapes of teardrops and tongues. Tongues may
also be known as lamb's ears, scallops, shoe heels, clam shells or pen
wipers. There is much history about these truly homemade
cottage craft rugs.
These photos are examples
of rugs done
in the tongue and penny styles.
They appear
well worn.
Were they
used in light traffic areas such as bedrooms and baths?
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This rug was found on halseymunsonamericana.com auction site
Description reads:
1880-1890 felted wool table rug in a
layered clamshell pattern, each row stepping higher toward a central damask
panel decorated with appliqued hearts and a floral sprig whose leaves are
stuffwork hearts. This rug was actually used and shows wear in several areas
with missing overcast stitching and wear to the central motif. Despite that,
the design is clear and vivid and with judicious restoration could be
spectacular. 42” x 30”. Stitched on linen with a red
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Description:
Early Antique Hand Stitched Penny Rug
40" x 40" Late 1800s | eBay
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Details
Penny rug, 27" x 41", very good
condition, no holes or tears
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Further
references can be found in
Time Life
Books
American
Country; The Needle Arts
Page 93 begins
the chapter “For the Table” with penny rugs
and appliquéd rugs shown on pages 96 through
101
“reaching
their peak in of popularity around the 1870s, appliquéd table rugs were part
of a Victorian fashion for making highly decorative, but largely useless,
handicrafts to fill every corner of the home” …”they were purely ornamental,
and might be placed on a parlor table .... “to create an “artistic”
vignette.”
The
chapter goes on to feature illustrations and varying compositions including
the penny or “button” rug. The book has a wonderful collection of American
needlework including samplers, bed covers, as well as hooked and braided
rugs.
Don’t just
settle on that issue; look further in the Folk Arts edition (on page 142) to
find more appliqué rug references. Here again it is mentioned that the rugs
were used as coverings for tables and chests instead of being placed on the
floor.
***
Penny rugs
are great fun to research, follow and create.
There are many
craft magazines and more recent publications that reference them. Take a look
back through your own collections.
Perhaps
you have issues that were kept from earlier generations.
Search
thrift stores and book sites to find
colonial, country,
Victorian, folk art, craft or décor books.
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