Floor Cloths or Floorcloths
Antique floor cloth rugs are getting much harder to find, but a few do still exist that are usable. This link is for original antique floor cloths that have been put up for sale by private owners by showing them at auction.Showing below are replicas and new floor cloths made by artisans from many different locals. They are becoming quite popular again and there is starting to be a nice hand painted selection of floor cloths being marketed for sale at auction and at the Ebay Mall. Some are quite decorative and ready for every occasion and decorative style.
Many of the old floor cloths in existence today were very detailed with perfect designs. Naturally not everyone was artistic, so the Primitive style rugs became a hit among the folk art crowd. It was a natural freestyle that is very much in demand today. These are the floor cloths hightly prized by collectors of floor cloths.
New floor cloths often depict the primitive, or folk art style of painting. It is personal expression that makes up many of the designs. Some are bright and playful, while others tell a story.
Floor cloths are primarily made of canvas, which has been hand painted in the artists choice for design. Once the design has been completed, the rug gets several coats of sealer before it can be used. Older methods of seal-coating the completed painting compared to the way it is done in modern times cuts the process down greatly. Linseed oil or a toxic varnish or lacquer was the sealant of choice in olden days, and believe it or not, many still use this method today to depict a more authentic floor cloth . However, there are many other sealers that can be used today that are not as toxic.
One quick method to seal your floor cloth is to use Minwax Polycrylic. You still have to layer the coats and let each coat dry prior to applying a second and third coat, but the drying time is less, so you can recoat the cloth sooner.
If you plan to use your floor cloth for a wall hanging, table mat or other none rug usage, an alternative non-toxic sealer is fine. When purchasing a floor cloth prepared for floor usage, ask the artist if it is sealed for such a usage. If it is not, the floor cloth will be ruined very quickly.
Making floorcloths does not have to be a sized rug. You will have a great deal of fun trying your hand at making a table center mat or even mug mats. I would suggest investing in a couple stencils and use acrylic paints for your first project. Once you get the hang of it, you will graduate into making bigger and more detailed projects.
Antique original floor cloths are a treasure and used mainly as an art object for preserving the historical value of floor cloths. Few come before the public as they are rare to find. Below are a few examples of reproductions of old designs and also quite a few new floor cloth designs for all decor. Many more are available by viewing more items.
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