Folk Art Rugs

In contrast, Folk Art is created by an unskilled person and for the most part it was created with the intent to be used personally or to be given as a gift. Some of the great folk artists had a tremendous amount of raw talent and they used that talent to show what they themselves feel is beautiful without taking into account whether or not the piece has mass appeal.

By doing this we (the outsiders) often get an intimate view of the artists world, life, views and emotions. For the most part, people don’t think of rugs when they are talking about the different types of Folk Art but some of the most collectible rugs in the world are just that – pure Folk Art!

Many of the antique tribal rugs fall into the category of Folk Art rugs. One example of Folk Art rugs would be the tribal rugs that originated in the Caucasus. Woven in peoples homes, by “unskilled” artisans, rugs like Shirvans & Kazaks are great examples. Their beauty is seen in the crudeness and primitiveness of the rugs they made.

Vintage Rya Rug One other great example would be the earliest examples of Rya rugs from Scandinavia. These rugs were made predominately by women, at home, and then either used in the home or given as gifts. Untrained, these women created magnificent works that embody the essence of the modernist movement.

Antique American Hooked Rugs also have a strong foothold in the world of Folk Art rugs. What could be a better example than our very own American hooked rugs? Filled with innocence and simplistic designs, these rugs, transport us back to a time when things were much simpler and day to day life was so very different than today’s. While they had their share of hardships, one can’t help but feel and appreciate the simplicity of their daily life.

The last group of rugs that I will talk about today is… Moroccan rugs. Recently we posted an article indicating how these little masterpieces pack as much of an artists punch as any of the great mid-century modern master artisans… You can read that article here: Move Aside Jackson Pollock.

Moroccan rugs were so advanced for their time that it leaves many in the art community speechless – how could these simple people create such phenomenal works of art, how could they dream up these designs and colors while, for the most part, living a simple life in the secluded region of the Atlas mountains?

Regardless of the specific type of folk art antique rug you pick they all have an artistic significance that will echo through that halls of history. They bring the past back to life and show us the way things were in the most simple and humble way. There is no doubt that these magnificent works of art are just that – magnificent works of art!

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