Rug

Object Name:

Rug

Object ID:

1992.026.02

Date:

1800-1900

Description:

Coverlet. Woven cotton with red and black printed designs. Composed of two pieces of cloth each 24 inches wide hand stitched together. 11 inch hem at top and bottom held in place by large, loose stitches. Design consists of central flowering plant underneath South Asian (Indian) or Middle Eastern-style arch, narrow flowered border on either side of central design. Wide border of different flower designs in separate squares on either side of center and narrow geometric design bordering whole cloth. Design appears to be block-printed. Red dye blotchy, without crisply defined edges. Coverlet unfinished, edges uneven.
This is a floor cover, not a bed cover. The original shape was much longer, but the top and bottom borders have been folded under and basted. Made in India, this item is constructed of two lengths of coarse beige cotton, seamed up the center and coarsely block-printed with madder in a design of a central arch in a narrow, Middle Eastern shape. The arch is filled with a tall flowering plant and bordered along the long sides with floral motifs separated into boxes. A narrow border with vaguely floral motifs and dots edges the floor cover. The ends, which measure about 11 inches deep, have been turned under; they are block-printed with six large buta (paisley) motifs across the width. The selvedge width is about 23.75 inches.

Material:

Textile
Cotton

Dimensions:

W-48 L-77.25 inches

Provenance:

Gift of Margaret Gesen

Credit Line:

Gift of Margaret Jackman Gesen

People:

Gesen, Margaret Jackman (1904-1993)

Subjects:

Bedspreads, Textiles, Weaving