Antique French Savonnerie Rug in Cream with Floral Patterns

Hand-knotted in wool from France circa 1890-1900, this 8x11 Antique French Savonnerie rug in the Neoclassical style is a rare masterpiece from Rug & Kilim’s European rug collection. ...

Handwoven in wool circa 1890-1900, this 11x19 antique Aubusson flatweave and oversized rug is a rare masterpiece of the French tapestry weave style. On the design: Admirers of the...

Distinguished by an ivory background punctuated by floral elements in pastel shades, this antique French Savonnerie carpet is characteristic of the late Baroque style which was preva...

During the early seventeenth century, a weaver named Pierre DuPont travelled to the Levant. Upon his return, he claimed to have discovered the technique of creating Turkish rugs. Oriental rugs were extremely expensive during Bourbon times, and a French manufactory that could create the same type of rug would lower the price significantly. Henri VI of France–the reigning monarch at the time–took advantage of DuPont’s skills and established a workshop for him at the Louvre. In 1627, King Louis XIII founded a manufactory for DuPont and his apprentice, Simon Lourdes, on the site of a defunct soap factory in the sixteenth arrondissement (also known as Quai de Chaillot). The name “Savonnerie” was born from the French word “Savon” meaning “soap.” DuPont and Lourdes worked together, weaving rugs under a royal patent for the king and other nobles until they had a falling out and split up. Lourdes remained at the Chaillot location while DuPont went to his workshops in the Louvre, though both continued to make Savonnerie rugs. Antique rugs, French Savonnerie carpet, Beige Floral carpet...