Louis XV Savonnerie Carpet with Royal Arms, manufacturer Savonnerie Factory, France, c.1740-1750 (Savonnerie knotted pile...

This spectacular carpet, one of three with this royal pattern, was originally designed for Louis XV’s dining room at chateau La Muette by the prominent Savonnerie artist Pierre-Josse Perrot in 1735. The royal arms of France on the orb are topped by a crown with eagle’s wings. Cornucopia issue from corner pieces that alternate with military trophies. The lively artistic style was simplified for faster weaving and a brown ground was used to heighten the brilliant colours. The Savonnerie factory was founded in the early 1600s to create French versions of Oriental carpets, whose import had created a drain on the economy. The technique, copying Turkish carpets, has wool pile formed with symmetrical rug-knots, wool warps, and hemp wefts.