This rug was hand-hooked in the Southwest United States during the second quarter of the 20th century, likely within a regional craft circle influenced by New Deal era (WPA/NYA) fiber-arts programs and the broader Taos–Santa Fe art colony movement, both of which encouraged handmade works drawing on Indigenous and Hispano visual traditions.
It features a bold radial composition of stylized hand motifs set against a deep navy ground. The central form radiates outward in a symmetrical arrangement, surrounded by smaller hand figures, geometric roundels, and abstract linear elements. The imagery carries a strong symbolic quality, suggesting themes of connection, protection, and human presence, rendered through a distinctly Southwestern lens. The initials at the lower edge appear to function as a maker’s mark, reinforcing the individuality of the piece.
Rugs of this kind were often made in small New Mexican workshops or WPA-supported craft programs that trained local makers to adapt regional imagery into domestic textiles, blending vernacular craft with emerging modernist design sensibilities.
In very good condition for its age. The surface shows age-appropriate wear and subtle irregularities consistent with handwork. Flat pile with a soft, nubby handle
Size: 2' x 3'2 [61cm x 97cm]
Age: Q2 20th Century (1925-1950)
Origin: SW United States
Type of Rug: Hook
Material: Mixed materials
Pile Height: Low
Condition: Very good
BK2882
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