Savonnerie Rugs |
The
Savonnerie rug, aristocrat of rugs of the Western world, was first produced in
1628. The Savonnerie rug has a textured pile, knotted by hand in much the same
manner as an Oriental carpet, with a Turkish knot. Savonnerie rugs are usually
baronial in size and are better suited to elaborate and formal rooms. Named for
a children's hospice in Southern France, in the 17th c. students of Pierre
DuPont took control of the hopsice and created a self-supporting factory that
flourished through the Revolution and Napoleon. This hand knotted wool rug of
gaily colored florals has an antique washed look. Indicate in comments section
of the order form the color desired: burgandy, emerald, black, or blue mint.
Today the word Savonnerie means a type of style of weave, and rugs woven in this
manner can be found to emanate from many other parts of the world.
Savonnerie workshops were founded in Paris and their output of weavings was for
royal palaces, state gifts and important commissions. Designs created by court
artists included floral arrangements, military and heraldic references and
architectural motifs. Warps were made out of linen and the woolen pile was woven
using the symmetrical knots. The greatest period of Savonnerie rug production
was between 1650 - 1789. Today, most 17th and 18th century Savonnerie rugs are
found only in some of the world's greatest museums.
The most important European styles in the history of European rug weaving are
the French Savonnerie of the 17th and 18th century, which are still being copied
by countries such as India, Pakistan, China and Iran.