Louis XV Savonnerie Carpet with Royal Arms

A CLOSER LOOK

The museum identifies this carpet as Savonnerie knotted pile (symmetrical ruf knot), wool, hemp and credits Royal Savonnerie Manufactory, Chaillot Workshops (French, est. 1627).

The museum's collection notes: 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 colors.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 Turk