Carpet, palmette design

Date19th century

MediumWool pile, natural cotton warps, tan wool wefts.

Dimensions84" X 122"/ 10'2" x 7'.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-487

DescriptionPalmette design carpet. Colors: Ground: field-medium blue, border-camel tan, inner and outer guard bands-creamy white and black. Pattern: ivory, yellow, rose, red, light blue, medium blue, dark blue, brown, green, and black. The field of design consists of seven vertical rows of palmettes, cartouches and medallions. The center row and two flanking rows repeat the same elements of design and alternate a small diamond-shaped cartouche with volute outlines with a larger unit which has in the center a small rosette flanked laterally by trefoils and vertically by partially opened flower palmettes. The other four rows have series of deeply indented outlines within which are elaborately and sharply drawn flower palmettes. These devices alternate with hexaginal cartouches. The main border has a beautiful reciprocating outlined trefoil or cloudband motif. The inner and outer gusrd bands are identical, each with simple reciprocal trefoils.

Construction History
Jan. 1971 - Hand cleaned, repaired holes, selvedges overcast, lining removed , new edge & fringe
July 1975 - Hand cleaned, partial repairs, prepared for hanging w/ linen hanging strip (for Textile Museum exhibition)Inscription(s)NoneMark(s)NoneProvenancePrior to 1955, Beshir Galleries (New York, NY); 1955-present, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)