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The History of La Savonnerie

The first so called Louis XIII carpet made in about 1660 were extraordinarily fine in texture with a blue or brown ground and floral decoration with Persian inspiration. Under the encouragement of Colbert, Louis IV began to revolutionize the French carpet production with the goal of rivaling carpet production in the Near East.

The Savonnerie tradition can be traced back to Henri IV (1533-1610). During his reign, he became concerned with the outflow of gold from France for the purchase of luxury objects abroad (objects like Tapestries and Carpets). In response, he established artisan workshops in the Louvre. These workshops enabled specially chosen craftsmen, including famous Parisian cabinet makers and bronze casters to exercise their skills.

This taste dates back to the 17th century when diplomatic visits from Ottoman and Persian Emissaries to the court of Louis XV were marked by a dazzling display of fabrics, textiles and carpets. Naturally such visits served as an opportunity for negotiations, ostentatious displays and the exchange of gifts. Sometimes a carpet was presented as a gift and subsequently reproduced. 

After Louis IV lost interest in the Louvre, the carpets were rolled up and sent to the Garde-Meuble and brought out only on special occasions. The carpets survived the 18th century without mishap, but during the French Revolution, their high aesthetic quality caused them to be put up for auction or used as currency. Despite their fate during the French Revolution, these Savonnerie carpets have held their aesthetic quality and value through the centuries. Historians agree that the Savonnerie workshops and resulting.

In 1644, the decision was made to install one of the weaving workshops in an abandoned soap factory in the village of Chaillot, just outside of Paris. It was called Hospice de la Savonnerie. The management of the Factory was entrusted to two entrepreneurs; Pierre Dupont and Simon Lourdet. The “furnishings” made in the new workshops would eventually acquire the name “Savonnerie” after the original purpose of the savon factory, savon meaning soap. The most famous of these manufactories, La Savonnerie, was producing carpets for the court of Louis XIV that were technically, but not aesthetically indebted to Eastern tradition. The designs of these rugs were inspired by contemporary French decoration rather than Oriental carpet design.

Colbert did, in fact, revolutionize French carpet designs with a vast and unified series of carpets celebrating the ‘magnificent, glorious and harmonious’ governance of the Sun King, Louis XIV. During this time La Savonnerie worked mainly for the Royal Garde-Meuble which was in charge of the Palace furnishings. After Louis IV lost interest in the Louvre, the carpets were rolled up and sent to the Garde-Meuble and brought out only on special occasions. The carpets survived the 18th century without mishap, but during the French Revolution, their high aesthetic quality caused them to be put up for auction or

Today, LH Rugs continues this grand tradition by painstakingly replicating the splendor and luxury of these centuries old weaving techniques. Fine quality New Zealand wools on authentic French looms to weave designs marked by a myriad of multi-hued patterns designed to bring new heights of color, clarity and brilliance to the Rugs Savonnerie Collection. Each Savonnerie created by LH Rugs is woven after original artwork and is meticulously hand knotted under the strict supervision of our conscientious and expert Master Weavers and Master Colorists. One of our Savonnerie rugs may contain up to 200+ colors, with each individual knot containing between 3-5 colors. This vast array of colors gives our Savonnerie rugs unparalleled depth, dimension and color details leading to exquisite luxury, a touch of history and 17th century decorative art.