This Axminster carpet is worked with elements which are all are fully of the period, but which are combined in a pattern which is earlier in feel. The ground colour is also one which was popular at Axminster in the very early period of around 1760-1770, but which is very rare to find at this late stage. More typical of the period are the designs of the central medallion and the scrolling acanthus in the border.

The lattice design is formed of vine tendrils which are also of the period, seen for example on the silver of Paul Storr, but used here to form panels which would indeed have fitted with the gothic style of the furniture that Botfield was commissioning at the same time. There is a delicate naturalism to this design which is fully in keeping with gothic foliage designs. This naturalism is also seen on a small number of other carpets of the period, noted by Jacobs as retrospective in design, woven with their fields strewn with floral sprays and with none of the Regency formality found in the medallion and border here (B.Jacobs: Axminster Carpets (hand made) 1755-1957, Leigh-on-Sea, 1970, pl. 6 for example, woven for the Vicar of Axminster). It was the floral naturalism which made many of the early Axminsters so outstanding; it is this feature again which is the most successful part of the present design.