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Written by www.wilton-carpet.com
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Saturday, 16 May 2009 13:40 |
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Wilton carpets are named for the place where they first started, Wilton, in the south west of England. When the wool trade declined cloth making took over and Wilton became a weaving town, with the rivers Wylye and Nadder providing the water which is essential in various stages of cloth manufacture. It is important to remember that the "weavers" referred to here were cloth weavers, to whom carpet weaving was at that time unknown.
An account from the Salisbury and Winchester Journal of 30th August 1884 tels us that the Wilton carpet industry ... found a warm supporter in Henry, 9th Earl of Pembroke and 6th Earl of Montgomery, to whom we are indebted for the introduction of the finest kinds of carpets...During his travels in north of France and Flanders the Earl is said to have taken great interest in the carpet works of these countries and noticing the superior quality of these products he entered into an arrangement with two Frenchmen Antony Duffosy (in fact Dufosée in French) and Peter Jemaule who are said to have been conveyed to this country in a barrel...
The reason why Dufosée and Jemaule had to be smugled out of France is unclear, but presumably, the French authorities did not want their skilled workmen to leave the country.
This was the time of the reign of Louis the XIV (Also known as "the Sun King") and this was also the same period of time where strong economic rules were raised by his principal minister COLBERT to protect and develop the French textile industry of carpets and tapestries in various areas of the Kingdom such as north of France, Paris with the Manufacture royale des Gobelins, or later in the center of France with the famous Manufacture Royale d'Aubusson.
However Jelaule is not heard again but "The first carpet ever made in England was manufactured at Wilton, by and under the direction of Anthony Duffosy" (Britton, Beauty of Wiltshire,1801)
The first Wilton carpet loom was patented in 1741.
What Dufosée created was the type of cut pile carpeting now known as WILTON carpet.
In fact, today several several loom types are used to manufacture a variety of carpet constructions which carry the Wilton name : - Plain Wilton or "single frame"
- Jacquard Wilton or "multi frame"
Both are issued from the traditional "Warp and Weft" weaving process.
Over the 19th century the punched cards process better known under the name of the inventor (Joseph- Marie JACQUARD - in French) was adapted to the Wilton carpet looms
Wilton carpet can be woven with cut pile velvet, but and that is may be the main difference with axminster carpets, also with loop pile or eventually cut and loop pile.
More over pile heights can be varied within a single carpet to created a "structural" or carved effect.
Some wilton carpets are also made from synthetic man made fibers. They are generally woven on "Face to face" wilton looms. Face-to-face Wilton carpets is made on a different type of loom, which particularly favoured for the manufacture of area rugs. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 May 2010 01:50 )
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