Mary Sheppard Burton - Textile Artist - Examples of Hooked Rugs

Mary Sheppard Burton
Textile Artist

"The Moghul Taj"
The Golden Age of Carpets (15th century through 18th century) is especially
appealing to me. The Golden Age was the time of fabulous color and incredible design of the kilims and knotted Orientals. Craftsmanship was at its zenith, and so was design. Sultans and Caliphs commissioned great de-signers to make works of art in carpets for their courts.

I found one of these works in a tiny (2 ”x 2 ”) black and white photograph and it completely captivated me. It was little wonder, for as I later discovered, it had been commissioned by Shah Jahan for the Taj Mahal. The design involved grotesque animal and floral forms enriched with a touch here and there of traditional Persian design. From this minute picture, and with the aid of a magnifying glass, I did my design on linen, in much the same manner as the ancient designer had created his. I replaced the technique of knotting, as the piece had originally been created in the 17th century, with that of hooking. Additionally, I “painted” in flannel wool on a horizontal plane - which really gave a fresh concept to the design itself. There is something wonderfully exciting about presenting new concepts to honor an ancient artist’s work. And thus has it ever been—the best always surfaces time and time again. This wall hanging became my “Moghul Taj,” and was designated the Best of Show in the Crafts Collection presented by the Creative Crafts Council of Greater Washington, D.C. There were 1132 entries in this exhibition.

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