Art Underfoot... Floor Cloths and More, LLC

A history of floor cloths

Painted canvas floorcloths were used as early as the 1700's and grew in popularity in the 1800's and 1900's
as an inexpensive way to add floorclovering to earthen or old wooden floors.

They were gradually replaced
by manufactured linoleum. Painted canvas floorcloths hve enjoyed a renewed popularity in the 20th century
as decorative accents.

Originally, a heavy canvas was primed and painted with many layers of oil based paint and many coats of
sealer. It was a long process requiring extended drying times between coats, to allow the layers to cure.

Once completed, they provided a durable and perhaps colorful rug, that would last for generations. Modern
floorcloth artists use a variety of methods, some staying strictly with methods derived from both eras.

However, modern matrials and techniques lend themselves more readily to a wider variety of designs andcolors. Newer varieties of sealers, some made especially for floorcloths provide more flexibility and will not
crack with age.