A vivid and characterful flatweave kilim-style rug attributed to Stefan Gałkowski (Polish, 1912–1984) — one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Polish textile art, whose work is held in the permanent collection of the Denver Art Museum.

Woven in warm shades of orange and yellow, the rug features horizontal striped bands divided by patterned geometric dividers, with figural creatures — cats, dogs, and similar animals — rendered in black and white between the stripes. Tied white tassels trim two edges. The flatweave construction, the bold warm palette, the figural folk imagery, and the tassel-trimmed edges are all hallmarks of the Polish kilim tradition that Gałkowski mastered and championed throughout his career.

About Stefan Gałkowski:

Stefan Gałkowski (Warsaw, 1 May 1912 – Kraków, 11 March 1984) was a Polish tapestry weaver and teacher who, along with his wife Helena Gałkowska, is credited with saving Polish tapestry weaving from extinction during World War II and spearheading its post-war renaissance. Working from Kraków, he was the central figure in the revival of the Polish kilim and tapestry tradition as a serious fine art form — bridging folk heritage with a modernist sensibility.

Gałkowski's preferred subject matter was figures, animals, and landscapes, rendered in thick, heavy wools in natural and warm colors — precisely the vocabulary on display in this rug. His work Spring (Wiosna) (c.1961), a large-scale wool and linen tapestry featuring figures, fish, birds, and animals in a warm, folk-inflected style, is held in the Neusteter Textile Collection at the Denver Art Museum (accession no. 2005.134) — a direct parallel to the figural animal imagery in this piece.

The auction house notes no maker's mark is present and attributes the work to Gałkowski based on style. The attribution is consistent with his known body of work — the figural animals between patterned dividers, the orange and yellow palette, the flatweave construction, and the tassel-trimmed edges are all characteristic.

Details:

• Attribution: Stefan Gałkowski (Polish, 1912–1984) — attributed, no maker's mark
• Type: Flatweave kilim-style rug / wall hanging
• Palette: Orange and yellow ground with black and white figural elements
• Imagery: Figural animals (cats, dogs, and similar creatures) between patterned geometric dividers
• Trim: Tied white tassels on two edges
• Dimensions: 55" H × 86" W (approximately 4'7" × 7'2")
• Origin: Poland, mid-20th century

Condition:

Good overall condition. No visible stains or rips. Please review all photographs carefully.