Object Description
Fine Continental Savonnerie Carpet
3.71 x 2.80 m
Savonnerie pieces are undoubtedly the most prestigious of all European knotted pile carpets; the Savonnerie manufactory was first established in 1615, by Pierre DuPont, in a disused soap factory downstream of Paris, in part in response to a desire among the aristocracy to reinvigorate the French decorative arts. Until 1768, Savonnerie carpets remained the exclusive property of the French royalty, and served as some of the nation’s most high-value diplomatic gifts, gracing the palaces of the nobility all across Europe. The Savonnerie fashion enjoyed particular favor during the reign of Napoleon, as a staple of Empire Style design, popular internationally among those seeking to emulate the tastes of the French upper classes. Waddesdon Manor, a Victorian mansion well-known for its vast collection of French artworks, possesses nineteen of these Savonnerie carpets.
This example is a late 20th Century recreation of these earlier Savonnerie pieces, finely handwoven in soft wool and vegetable-dyed colours, featuring a beautiful floral design, in tones of salmon pink and sage green, over a muted caramel field, framed by a light terracotta border.
A sophisticated piece, in excellent condition, which would make a welcome addition to any interior.