George Wells (American, -1988), acclaimed American rug designer, watercolor and pencil mockup of an American fish and flora rug custom made for Donal Clare O'Brien of New Canaan, CT and Nantucket, MA. O'Brien was the longtime Chairman of the National Audubon Society and the Atlantic Salmon Federation. The Atlantic Salmon is the centerpiece of the rug, and it is surrounded my various types of salmon, trout and native flowers. All painstakingly detailed. The wool color samples are still attached at bottom right. Artwork mounted on light blue and navy in vintage gold frame measures 19.75" x 16.75". Artwork and frame in good, age appropriate condition.
Established in 1920, The Ruggery specializes in custom designed hand hooked rugs. Their client list reads like a who’s who of American society, with iconic names such as Kennedy, Kellogg, Morgan, Post, du Pont, Pratt, Hepburn and Bilhuber. These rugs can be seen in U.S. Senate offices, the Vatican and distinguished residences around the world.
Located on the North Shore of Long Island, The Ruggery was started in 1920 by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Porter. The couple came to New York from England and began making rugs in the dining room of their house. The rugs, which primarily featured large floral patterns and Early American designs, were commissioned by private clients or for F. Schumacher and Company. Mrs. Porter dyed the yarn, while her sister drew the patterns. Mr. Porter and local artisans hooked the rugs for their affluent clients.
George Wells purchased The Ruggery in 1956 after a career in retailing, where he designed merchandise, displays and store interiors. Wells had been hooking rugs for some time, and his abstract designs were the beginning of a new style of rug making. His work was widely exhibited and received top awards in national competitions. Wells’ innovative rug designs expanded to include the finely detailed pictorial scenes for which The Ruggery became famous. Renowned for his modern designs, Wells said he enjoyed “making untraditional designs for traditional houses.”
Wells compared his work as a master rug maker to that of a stage designer. “The stage setting is the room, and the rug must suit the setting and the characters who live in that setting,” he said. “Above all, the characters must enjoy the rugs.”
Wells’ achievements included awards from the National Designer Craftsman Exhibition, New York Architectural League and American Institute of Decorators, among others. He was also an advocate for rug hooking as rehabilitation and therapy, and worked with the New York State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide instruction and materials.
