A rare Arts & Crafts carpet
by Alexander Morton & Co., Donegal, Ireland, c1900
15ft 11in x 12ft 1in : 489cm x 368cm
Provenance: Sir Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, Pen Tower, Fishguard.
In 1898, Alexander Morton (1844-1923), who had a textile manufacturing firm, arrived in Killybegs, Co. Donegal, Ireland, together with an experienced weaver of Axminster carpets from Wilton. There they established workshops to make carpets, providing much needed employment both for weavers and for the sheep farmers who supplied the wool. Numerous exhibitions, organized by Liberty’s, promoted these carpets which enjoyed important patronage: King Edward for his own bedroom, Queen Victoria for Osborne, the Prime Minister’s residence and the White House, Washington.
Many of the leading designers of the time (Butterfield, Voysey and Knox) were contracted to supply designs. Gavin Morton (1867-1954), Alexander’s nephew, ran the company’s design department.
The present carpet is rare as the designer is unknown, though there are influences taken from C.F.A Voysey and The Silver Studio. Also very few examples of this design have been encountered. Of note is the exceptional condition and fresh original colours.
Pen Tower was an Arts & Crafts house, built for Sir Ben Evans in 1898 and furnished with two other Arts & Crafts carpets, one in particular was an important large carpet, The Rose, designed by C.F.A.Voysey, which is also in our collection.
Price : P.O.A
Share this itemPrint info/picture sheet
Arrange a viewing
Enquire further
