Oriental Rugs Glossary

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Savonnerie

Savonnerie was a rug manufactory in Paris. The designs developed here had a big impact on the Oriental carpet making, especially in Turkey. Even the court manufactory of Hereke (Turkey) took over designs and coloring from the Savonnerie. Around 1604 the art-loving King Henri IV of France founded a court-owned carpet manufactory out of a hobby. It was first active in the Louvre and then moved to "Hospice de Savonnerie" a few years later which was a closed down soap manufactory. Therefore the famous name: Savonnerie. The market for hand made rugs in large formats which suited the baroque representitive rooms was huge in the 17th century. Beautiful Savonnerie rugs can fortunately stil be found in good condition today.