1750s Western European Rugs

Mid-18th Century English Axminster Carpet - George III Period 13'8" x 15'8" - 417 x 478

Rug #: 20319 Tapestry, Gobelins Factory, France 9’0” x 6’4” (2.77 m x 1.92 m) Circa mid-18th century “The Air” or “Aurora & Cephalus”, from a set of The Four Elements From a design of Francois Boucher Structure: Slit tapestry weave. Warp: linen, natural, beige, Z-2-S, 25/in Weft: silk, Z-2, 90 wefts/in², or Wool, Z-2-S, plain tan edge and various small details No marks of origin Subject: This panel is the first of a series of four depicting classical allegories of The Elements (Air, Earth, Water, Fire). Francois Boucher created the original paintings around 1770 and the first edition of the set was woven between 1772 and 1776. “Air” was the first woven and was 3.0m x 1.85m, a taller and narrower format than our example. The figures are: male, Cephalus, dressed as a hunter; female, Aurora; and Cupid (Eros), all within a tall, airy pavilion supported by four thin colonettes and topped by a garlanded baldachin. The figures rest on a garden seat and there are trees and flowers in the background. A dog chases some birds in the foreground. In the other tapestries in the series, there are similar male/female pairings (Vertumnus and Pomona for Earth, Neptune and Amymone for Water, and Venus and Vulcan for fire). Remarks: 1. The series was copied several times between 1894 and 1897 from the original cartoons...

Mid 18th Century French Needlepoint Carpet ( 5' x 8 8'' - 152 x 264 )

The unusual camel field of this period Axminster carpet appears behind the in and out palmette, leaf and vine pattern adapted from virtually contemporary Indian Mughal carpets. The p...

Mid-18th Century English Axminster Carpet ( 3'4" x 17'4" - 102 x 528 )

Mid-18th Century English Biblical Needlepoint with Story of Moses Being Found by Bithiah in the Nile.

Mid 18th Century Scenic English Needlepoint ( 2'4" x 2'7" - 71 x 79 )

Pair of 18th Century French Beauvais Tapestries 2'9" x 7'6" - 83 x 228