A rare Pontremoli needlework carpet
English, circa 1920s
Worked in wool of petit point and gross point techniques with additional silk highlights. Signed: JMP
18ft 7in x 11ft : 566cm x 335cm
In 1910, Mr Pontremoli (1888-1952) established a workshop in Paddington, London, to make needlework carpets, primarily based on designs by William S. Haines and other designs copied from the Victoria and Albert Museum by his girls. The carpets produced were a hybrid of different design styles and periods and because of this not all his designs worked or are as desirable. The present carpet is, in our opinion, one of his most satisfying creations, with a design influenced by Jacobean crewelwork embroidery.
The workshop was active during a period which saw the emergence of the Art Deco, a progressive modern movement and as such Pontremoli carpets, though based on classical period designs, do have a Miro-esque quality and at times one can see similarities of his carpets to those of Ernest Boiceau (1881-1950) who was working in Paris from 1925. This association allows his carpets to be adaptable to both classical rooms and modern decorative schemes.
Recent research and the discovery of working notes by William S.Haines have increased our knowledge on him and his designs for Pontremoli. Haines was the son of William C. Haines who was working at the Royal Windsor Tapestry workshop and when it closed in 1890, he moved to the William Morris workshops at Merton Abbey (he is recorded as being an experienced weaver and working on the Angeli Laudantes tapestry which is now in the V.A. Museum). In 1908, the father established a restoration workshop for tapestry at 216 Merton Road, London. The younger Haines travelled the world and worked in an assortment of jobs: as a wrestler and in Paris, as a buyer of textiles for the American market, this enabled for him to research textiles which influenced and furthered his artistic abilities.
Pontremoli gained the attention and patronage of Queen Mary (the mother of Queen Elizabeth II) who herself did needlework and was an enthusiastic patron of the Royal School of Needlework. Queen Mary awarded Pontremoli a Royal Warrant and his needlepoint rugs are still to be found in the Royal Household, other patrons include: Her Majesty the Queen, H.R.H. The Duke of Kent and Mrs Roosevelt.
Price : P.O.A.
Share this itemPrint info/picture sheet
Arrange a viewing
Enquire further
This is one example from our extensive collection of rare carpets and tapestries
