What Is Savonnerie Carpet

The savonnerie manufactory was moved to the gobelins in paris in 1826.

What is savonnerie carpet. Louis xiii developed the savonnerie manufactory by positioning the workshops along the banks of the seine at the foot of the hill of chaillot in the buildings of a former soap factory hence the name savonnerie that has since made carpet according to the knotted carpet technique. Today as then savonnerie designs follow the french style with framed medallions or coats of arms flowers densely packed in bouquets or leafy foliage. The savonnerie collection captures the rich luxurious look and feel of these 18th century classic french floor coverings. The elegant design of prized savonnerie rugs that once graced the palaces of europe is masterfully recreated for today s classy home decor.

Carpets produced in france employ the symmetrical knot. The savonnerie manufactory was the most prestigious european manufactory of knotted pile carpets enjoying its greatest period c. The savonnerie rugs played an important role in the prestigious french furniture s history. In the 17th century french artists and weavers invented the art of weaving rugs with depth perspective.

The cachet of its name is casually applied to many knotted pile carpets made at other centers the manufactory had its immediate origins in a carpet manufactory established in a former soap factory french savon on the quai de chaillot downstream of. Carpet production in small privately owned workshops in the town of aubusson began in 1743. He gifted a collection of music themed savonnerie creations to the ambassador of siam where they stayed intact and in use for hundreds of years. Savonnerie definition is of relating to or being a handmade one piece french carpet with a pile or a similarly woven tapestry.

The savonnerie carpet factory was created in the disused soap factory in french savon hence the name on the quai de chaillot in paris in 1615 by pierre dupont. Fortunately the savonnerie carpet had recently been cleaned and repaired so it was capable of withstanding relatively rigorous cleaning procedures origin late 19th century french savonnerie literally soap factory referring to the original building on the site converted to carpet manufacture. The beauvais manufactory better known for their tapestry also made knotted pile carpets from 1780 to 1792. Savonnerie carpet french pile floor covering usually large whether made at the savonnerie workshop or made in that manner and style the savonnerie factory on the site of a former soap factory hence the name was established in paris in 1627 at the hospice de la savonnerie at chaillot by royal order to provide pile carpets for use in the king s palaces and as royal gifts.

Savonnerie carpets also served as grand diplomatic gifts from louis to foreign ambassadors and other notables.