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They enjoyed most of their success from that time until the great depression and again for the decade following World War 2. The mill and the quality of their goods stood the test of time and remained in business until the late 1950s. Many of their wonderful rugs remain in good condition today, after 75 to 100 years of use, a true testament to the pride and quality of the guilded age of the industrial revolution. This is the finest quality wilton rug made. As was written in a 1913 Whittall catalog, "the anglo-persian is the most beautiful domestic rugs manufactured today. It is as closely woven as a Persian, has a silky, mirror-like sheen and feels like velvet under foot. It is made in Oriental designs and its soft colourings sink harmoniously into their surroundings." All Whittall productions were made from imported wools -- because this particular kind of wool is the toughest, strongest and most resilient in the worlds and gives the greatest wear. Every detail of Whittall manufacture measures up to the highest standard. An army of experts, wide-awake and up-to-date is required to make the raw wool into the finished fabric -- sorting and blending, scouring, drying, preparing, carding or combing, spinning, skeining, scouring again, dyeing, dye-testing, designing, card cutting, weaving, shearing, finishing -- the success of each process assured by the use of the finest machinery and the most efficient of help. The WHITTALL trademark is woven into the back of the rug and is your gaurentee of the highest grade material and workmanship -- unequalled beauty and wear.
Morris found, in this early oriental rug, the beauty and revolution of the European Rennaissance -- the creative expression of weavers in an exquisit woven carpet of natures grand design exemplified. From this rug came a new insight of revolution -- a return to history and his own modifications, draftings and beautiful pieces of art -- the birth of the Arts & Crafts movement. Similar pieces were made briefly in England by a few other Wilton rug mills. The quality, dyes, and type of weaving were woven to specifications that William Morris himself contracted for. The pattern was painstakingly drafted from a the Kelmscott Museum piece known as the Ispahan Vase rug, hence the description herein by the same name. The pattern features a series of flowing vinery which originally eminates from a series of vases. The vinery, in the persian tradition, stems many different flowers and flower heads - but is forever growing and unending. This is the beautiful expression of long life and a desire and hope for the fruitful reward of life eternal. The borders contain a smaller scale approach to the same design as the field. Large flower heads are arranged in a regularity opposite diagonally placed vinery and small floral stems. Several smaller borders guard the larger main border which reflects the field in an opposite darker background.
CONDITION: This rug is simply perfect. It has a full consistent pile without any wear or low areas whatsoever. The original fringe is full and intact on both ends. We do not use ANY optical enhancers of any kind (natural or chemical). Optical enhancers damage and pull dye to the surface of the rug's fibres, slowly stripping colour and character from the wool as the rug continues to age. Beware of descriptions claiming use of such materials and harsh cleaning methods to "brighten, add a sheen, or antique wash" the rugs -- all these methods deteriorate and damage these wonderful vintage and antique pieces beyond repair. CLEANING: This rug has been professionally hand cleaned by our own conservation team with a restorative thorough washing adhering to National Institute of Textiles and AIC
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(American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works) guidelines. The protein and lanolin based soap conditions the natural fibres in the rug and returns the original lustrous character and richness of colour to the wool. No steam extraction methods or chemical detergents were used during the cleaning process. Ever step possible was taken to preserve the historic nature and conserve the rugs condition.
