Antique Turn of the Century Folk Art Whaling Scene Hooked Rug, late 19th or early 20th Century

Antique Turn of the Century Folk Art Whaling Scene Hooked Rug, late 19th or early 20th Century, a hand hooked wool rug with unique depiction of a South Seas Whaling scene with large naive whale ship dominating the center, in the foreground a whale boat is approaching a spouting sperm whale. The whale is great with head and flukes arising separately out of the sea to convey motion and power, but the whale boat is absolutely fantastic with the crew hard at the sweeps and the boatsteerer standing in the stern in dramatic pose and a great hat! This is an extremely rare, well conceived and constructed, and delightfully whimsical piece of New England folk art. Mounted on a stretcher for hanging.

The rug is in very good condition, with just the expected wear. The back shows a limited water stain (from a leak on the last wall on which it hung?); it is visible on the front upper left, but actually blends in very well with the background motif.

Measures: 26-1/2 in H x 38-1/2 in W x 1-1/2 in Thick