Hooked Rug (Cotton) c. 1940

This hooked rug was made with cotton by Charlotte Angus, and the process itself really comes to the fore. You can see the maker's hand in the looping, the pulling, the very making of the thing. There's a kind of delightful, homespun geometry at play, look at that central lozenge. It feels both ancient and completely fresh. The colours are earthy and warm, that lovely muted palette of reds, browns, and greys give it an almost antique feel. And the texture! You can almost feel the loops under your fingers, that tactile quality makes it so inviting. It speaks to a slower, more deliberate way of life. It reminds me a little of the work of Gee’s Bend quilters, those incredible improvisational quilts made by African American women in Alabama. Like those quilts, this rug is a testament to the power of craft, of transforming humble materials into something beautiful and meaningful. It's about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.