A fine Aubusson carpet
French, circa 1860
17ft 10in x 17ft 11in : 540 cm x 545cm
In 1665, Colbert, founder of the Royal Manufactories of the Goblins and the Savonnerie, granted the official charter to the Aubusson workshops and had the overall title of Royal Manufactory extended to them. At this time only tapestries were being made there.
When Aubusson started to make carpets in 1743, the first production was in the oriental style, tapis turc or persane. With the demand at the Savonnerie factory exceeding supply new designs were sent to Aubusson in the French style. Louis XV sent Pierre-Josse Perrot (active 1724-1750), the designer of the Savonnerie carpets supplied to the Great Hall of the Louvre, together with three carpets in the French style, to give these new designs. Many commissions followed and carpets were supplied to: the Chateau de Versailles, Chateau de Choisy and Madame de Pompadour.
With the association of Aubusson with tapestry weave, this was applied to carpets for the floor. The present carpet, in excellent condition, has a pleasant light burgundy/celadon colour scheme with a classical floral and ornate scrollwork design on a ton sur ton damask field, an interesting detail is in the inclusion of birds in the border cartouches.
Literature: Madeleine Jarry, The Carpets of Aubusson, F.Lewis, Leigh-on-Sea, 1969, illustrated fig 75.
Provenance: Ex-Perez collection, London.
Price : £ 48,000
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