.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The Donegal company was founded in 1898 by Scottish textile manufacturer Alexander Morton. The Arts & Crafts Movement advocated the use of vernacular traditions and local materials and before establishing Donegal Carpets, Morton had first established a carpet crafting house on the west coast of Ireland and put to practice the techniques of the Donegal people who had been working with wool for generations. The company had a wide and important clientele for whom they wove private commissions, of which many remain in Britain's grandest houses including, Dublin Castle, the Royal Pavilion of Brighton and Eltham Palace.
By 1901 a number of the designs produced by the company had begun to simulate the designs of eastern fabrics as well as 'Turkey' carpets but which were relatively generic in their interpretation, (Malcolm Haslam and David Black, Arts and Crafts Carpets, London, 1991, p.102, fig.65). Unlike those examples, the paired 'leaf and compartment' lattice design of the present carpet is derived from a recognisable 17th century Mughal carpet fragment, north India, acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1951 and gifted to the G W Textile Museum, Washington, R63.006. A further fragment from a comparable carpet, was sold in The V. and L. Benguiat Private Collection of Rare old Rugs, New York, 4 and 5 December 1925, pl.17. For a fuller discussion on the development of the flower and lattice designs in 17th century Mughal India, see lot 200 in the present sale.
The British Ambassador moved residences in 1973 when much of the contents of the house was sold at auction. The small material insignia of George V that is applied to the reverse of the carpet, was applied to various items of furniture, silver and crockery belonging to the British High Commission.
By 1901 a number of the designs produced by the company had begun to simulate the designs of eastern fabrics as well as 'Turkey' carpets but which were relatively generic in their interpretation, (Malcolm Haslam and David Black, Arts and Crafts Carpets, London, 1991, p.102, fig.65). Unlike those examples, the paired 'leaf and compartment' lattice design of the present carpet is derived from a recognisable 17th century Mughal carpet fragment, north India, acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1951 and gifted to the G W Textile Museum, Washington, R63.006. A further fragment from a comparable carpet, was sold in The V. and L. Benguiat Private Collection of Rare old Rugs, New York, 4 and 5 December 1925, pl.17. For a fuller discussion on the development of the flower and lattice designs in 17th century Mughal India, see lot 200 in the present sale.
The British Ambassador moved residences in 1973 when much of the contents of the house was sold at auction. The small material insignia of George V that is applied to the reverse of the carpet, was applied to various items of furniture, silver and crockery belonging to the British High Commission.