The Craft and the Crafter

What is a floorcloth ​

           and how does it differ from a rug?

 

​Traditionally, floorcloths began as burlap or canvas cloths that were then handpainted to imitate the fancy Turkish carpets coming out of Europe in the 1700-1800s.  The poor man's version, essentially.  The cloths were often coated with many layers of paint and varnish, made to look like marble patterns, tiles, mosaics, Persian and Kashmir rugs, Trompe-l'oiel effects, stenciled with primitive images, and in later years, produced in "contemporary" patterns.   These cloths covered large or small rooms and hall floors, and were comparatively inexpensive;  they were much easier to clean than wool carpets, withstood wear and tear, felt good under the feet (like soft leather), and looked beautiful — with vintage specimens known to last for as many as 100 years. 

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After a time, floorcloth artisans and their floorcloth designs became extremely popular with even the rich and well-to-do.  The fanciest floorcloths came to command prices as high as the "Turkey werke" (Turkish carpets) available in Europe.  Floorcloths were later considered the forerunners of our modern linoleum.  Sadly, once industrialized linoleum became popular with the masses, handmade floorcloth manufacture waned.  But because artistans have continued to casually create painted floorcloths through the last century, there's been a slow and quiet resurgence of this handpainted art ever since the 1970s.

 

Like traditional floorcloth artisans, Thistlehawk Designs' artisan, Eve Anthony Hanninen, prepares her painted floorcloth art on heavyweight 15oz canvas, known as "duck cloth," which is commonly used by rugcrafters for its durability.  Eve hems and miters her floorcloths  for added strength and finish.  Hemming also helps the cloths to keep from curling.  (Traditional floorcloths have been sewn, burned, or just had their edges painted to seal the fibers.)  Eve then paints with many layers of acrylic paints, which are preferred for their flexibility, suppleness, and lightfastness.  The floorcloths are lastly finished with 4 coats of acrylic sealer, making them UV-resistant, water-resistant, and easy to clean with a damp cloth.

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Eve Anthony Hanninen has been a professional painter and illustrator, as well as a writer and poet, for more than a quarter of a century.  She's been the owner of and gallery designer for Tiny Violet Studios (private studio, Seattle, Washington, and also in Swift Current, Saskatchewan) since 1991.  Over the years she's sold numerous handpainted miniatures, household accessories, boxes, clothing, and freelanced graphics and illustrations for various companies and individuals.)          

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