CIRCA 1750

Not only did the Savonnerie workshops weave exquisite carpets but there was also a great production of woven covers for benches and foot stools or tabourets. Factory records state that 710 covers for tabourets were produced between the years of 1686 and 1791 (see Verlet, P., The James A. de Rothschild Collection of Waddesdon Manor, The Savonnerie, London, 1982, p. 292.). Many of the footstool and bench covers, as well as, firescreen and folding screens, woven in the first years of Louis XV reign are attributed to Blain de Fontenay. He is known for a central rose moresque surrounded by baskets of flowers, squirrels and parrots, all of which can be seen in this example. A firescreen in the Waddesdon collection is probably also by Blain de Fontenay and displays very similar squirrels feasting on grapes (see Verlet, op cit., Figs. 199 and 200, Cat. No. 14. ).