Macguffin 9: The Rug

For many, the lockdown period has meant spending much more time at home, which has probably led to deeper contemplations of floor coverings. From the panorama of our rugs we have experienced press conferences, video calls, board games, napping, and so much more. This issue looks at the infinite functions, meanings, and possibilities of the rug the world over, from George Pendle’s revelations about airport carpets to Rachel Dedman’s analysis of Palestinian rug-making traditions, from stories of carpet dealers by Kitty Drake to a complex case of gender and weaving by Alice Twemlow, and from tatami mats, prayer rugs, and tapestries to the animal kingdom beneath our feet.