Grenfell-Type Hooked Rug with Fisherman
1909-1919
Physical Qualities
Jute ground; cotton, wool, and jute pile, 24 x 33 in. (61 x 83.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Worth B. Daniels, Jr., Baltimore, MD.
Object Number
2009.88
Small rectangular rug composed of burlap (jute) ground with hooked pile of cotton, wool, and jute.* The subject is figurative, consisting of a man dressed in a grey sweater (originally purple), grey trousers (originally purple), and grey hat and boots (originally purple), standing on a large black rock situated among brownish reeds. The man casts a line from a fishing pole into the water, where five large grey and blue fish swim. The background is primarily light brown on the surface, but the reverse shows a subtltle change in color from land to water. The scene is surrounded by a 2" wide olive green border.
*The fish, hat, boots, pipe and clothing are of wool pile. The landscape and water are cotton pile. The sun and face of the man are possibly jute pile. The border is most likely also of jute.
This rug appears similar to those made in the Grenfell craft school established by Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, in Newfoundland between 1900 and 1930. However, it is figurative (generally not endorsed by the Grenfell rug makers) and it bears no tag,
Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 2009; Jane and Worth B. Daniels, Jr., Baltimore, MD by descent; Josephine Poe January Daniels.
On rotation, American Wing, 1st floor, Decorative Arts Hallway, 8-3-2011. Came off rotation February 2012.
Inscribed: Handwritten in black ink on reverse (legibility in question): "January" [maiden name of owner] or possibly "Daniels" [married name of owner].