Aubusson rugs were made in France -- But how were these wool rugs made ?

Aubusson rugs were fist made in the town of Aubusson, close to the Massif Central region of France, as far back as the seventeenth century. These high quality wool rugs were woven by interlacing the rug using a thick thread weave on a large loom. The aubusson rugs produced by this weaving process are without any pile and are best thought of as a wool rug tapestry.

The first aubusson rugs were based on persian rug designs, but over time these luxury wool rugs evolved into a style of their own. These generally large area rugs were mainly produced for wealthy European clients, and would have graced the floors of many fine homes and palaces throughout the 17th and 18th century.

The production of aubusson rugs in Aubusson ceased over 130 years ago. At this time the production of these fine wool rugs placed Aubusson at the center of the European rug making industry, however, with the advent of cheaper but high quality rugs from England, during the second half of the 19th century, the market for these top quality rugs slowly disappeared.

Today, quality copies of aubusson rug are widely available online. These top quality wool rugs are often made by hand using modern materials, but they can still recreate the look and feel of the original 18th century floor rugs.

October 19th 2004

By: Paul Goodwin
Website: http://www.a-to-z-of-rugs.com

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