Readicut Rugs and the activity of ' Rug Hooking '
In 1903 Robert Flower the 8th Earl of Ashbrook invented a novel hooked rug needle with a moveable latchet to enhance production of carpets in Co Laois in Ireland. The rights and practice were adopted at Abbey Leix in Ireland whilst patents protected the practice - see Index of Handmade manufacturers GB & Eire
In Britain during the austerity years of post WWII 1950s saw a shortage of rugs and carpets which lead to an increased popularity of the home production of small piled rugs. Although the practice of making homemade woven rugs had long been in place The Redicut Company having being formed in 1928 regularised and marketed the materials for home hobby consumption. It and others distributed standard length materials. Hitherto odd scraps that happened to be available might have been employed.
Through drapery outlets and craft shops one bought a kit of tools, canvas and wools to produce rugs using symmetrical knots onto a treated stiffened canvas. Canvases might have carried designs but commonly one was left to interpret output according to what materials might be available. The results thus often appeared amateur and somewhat naive. As children this activity took place in our own household, Father being the one to take up this hobby. His efforts we then used as hearth rugs in our draughty home. The materials were purchased from a local wool shop which were common in those days as knitting was still very much a preserve of ladies and was an established common pastime for much the same sort of shortage reasons. Growing up as a descendants of coastal seafarers in a port city where there was a tradition of knitting amongst men although we never saw it. Long distance seamen in particular apparently resorted to making replacement clothing during the time afforded by ocean voyages. Although rug hooking was not necessarily of particular interest in port cities it would not nevertheless have deterred the menfolk as in our Father's case.
At the Summer Antiques Fair at Olympia, London, 2008 a colleague achieved what must be a world record price for one such rug. The uncommonly large rug was well conceived, proficiently executed and measured approx. 300 x 140 cm or 10 x 5 ft. It used several canvasses which were seamlessly joined. The design was a humorous series of coloured drops on a plain background. The modernist inspiration may have been taken from confectionary advertising, something that was very much part of the social consciousness and flavour of the time.
The Readicut Company continues to trade.
© Clive Rogers
& Arthur Rogers IX 2008
Advert from
1937
©http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/LocalHistoryAdverts/WakefieldCoronation/readicut.htm
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
THE
READICUT COMPANY
http://www.readicut.co.uk
JACKSONS RUG
CRAFT
( No link - but the company is listed and still appear to be
trading )
----------------------------
Further Reading:
Basic Rug Hooking
by
Alice Beatty, Mary Sargent
Publisher: Stackpole
Books
Date
Published: 1990
ISBN-13:
9780811723060
ISBN:
0811723062
Rugs were usually constrained by the canvass size that was
supplied
