EXCEPTIONAL AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL, 19TH CENTURY, “STITCH-IN-THE-DITCH” WOOL RUG, WITH TWO SEATED CATS AND TWO TREES, FOUND IN MAINE, circa 1880 – 1890

Home / Sold Antiques

EXCEPTIONAL AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL, 19TH CENTURY, “STITCH-IN-THE-DITCH” WOOL RUG, WITH TWO SEATED CATS AND TWO TREES, FOUND IN MAINE, circa 1880 – 1890


Dimensions (inches):	30.25" x 64.5" x 1.25"
Description:
I have been buying, selling, and collecting hooked and shearer rugs for more than 30 years, as well as all manner of American decorative and utilitarian textiles, from quilts and coverlets, to braided and rag rugs, embroideries, whitework, samplers and show towels, ingrain carpets, flags, banners, and patriotic textiles of all sorts. While the premise is both simple and beautiful, I have never encountered a rug made in this manner. I was inclined to classify it as a sheared rug, simply because it reminds me of one, but it is not that at all. A more accurate term might be “stitch-in the-ditch.” Constructed of wool and made circa 1880-1890, the maker cut strips of fabric, approximately 1.5” – 2” in width, then hand-stitched them down the middle, laterally, affixing them to a piece of natural white linen. The strips folded up onto themselves as they were adhered. Designs were created by placing the strips next to one-another, consecutively, and curving them, accordingly, changing colors as needed, until they completed whatever form was desired. Found in Maine and presenting with the sort of great folk qualities and color expected in 19th century textiles and furniture of that state, the imagery consists of two, seated, brown cats, facing away from one-another, flanked by two bright green trees. The remainder of the colors consist of browns, greys, tans, and black, with a bit of lavender, red, mustard, and the same, attractive green. The composition and texture are nothing short of exceptional. Large in scale and graphically commanding. One of the best rugs I have ever seen. Mounting: Professionally mounted on a strainer wrapped in black duck cloth. Mount by Kathy Wilson, hands-down the best in the business in the mounting of hooked rugs. Condition: Excellent.



Primary Color:	brown, green, tan

Earliest Date:	1880

Latest Date:	1890

For Sale Status:	Sold

Price	SOLD

E-mail:	info@jeffbridgman.com

Page Views:... 636

EXCEPTIONAL AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL, 19TH CENTURY, “STITCH-IN-THE-DITCH” WOOL RUG, WITH TWO SEATED CATS AND TWO TREES, FOUND IN MAINE, circa 1880 – 1890

EXCEPTIONAL AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL, 19TH CENTURY, “STITCH-IN-THE-DITCH” WOOL RUG, WITH TWO SEATED CATS AND TWO TREES, FOUND IN MAINE, circa 1880 – 1890

EXCEPTIONAL AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL, 19TH CENTURY, “STITCH-IN-THE-DITCH” WOOL RUG, WITH TWO SEATED CATS AND TWO TREES, FOUND IN MAINE, circa 1880 – 1890

EXCEPTIONAL AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL, 19TH CENTURY, “STITCH-IN-THE-DITCH” WOOL RUG, WITH TWO SEATED CATS AND TWO TREES, FOUND IN MAINE, circa 1880 – 1890