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Like many of Mohawk's competing mills, their products were woven for the highest style of the design trade during their era. Within keeping of the Tiffany Studio For more than 120-years, the name Mohawk (trademark) has been synonymous with beautiful carpet. From the skilled hands of Mohawk's craftsmen, an array of colours, styles, and textures have enhanced the homes of generations of Americans. Mohawk made its name, not through the development of its own products, but through the acquisition (purchase) of competing mills. Most recently, in 1993, Mohawk purchased Karastan. The Tradition of Mohawk Industries is really the story of the American carpet industry. It is a story of innovative ideas and written by hard working people who built a company with a name that is still recognized today. This particular piece is a rare treasure from the 1920s Art Deco movement that swept the oriental market off its feet. While "oriental" rugs from the middle east began to fall out of favour, Mohawk, and other jacquard wilton rug mills of the era, embraced the new decorative movements and design motifs from other parts of the world. Very few of these pieces have survived in such wonderful condition. Most are only found in fragments, partial strips, and threadbare with little to no pattern remaining. Here, we have a treasure and an exquisit quality that has more than withstood its test of time.
The Velvet rug was created in a historic making process developed in 1897 by Masland Mills of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The "Masland" method was a far departure from the accepted production process. In the conventional process the dyeing of yarns for velvet floor covering is a step preliminary to weaving. In the Masland process the fabric is woven before the dyeing process takes place. The designs are engraved on huge copper cylinders. The already woven carpet is passed through a giant press and the dye transferred from the cylinder to the fabric. The colours are applied to the entire rug in one operation. The result is a full decorative carpet. The process forces the dyes into the depth of the pile. As explained in their advertising, "the colours go to the heart of the wool and last as long as the wool itself". Although the original method was invented by Masland, other mills, like Mohawk, improved upon the process and had much more success with their products. In look and feel, the rug is comparable to wilton and the best quality axminister rugs of the same period. The rug shown here is of the later improved version of the weave, completed on a Mohawk velvet loom. The pile is 100% worsted wool.
CONDITION: The has an exceptional full consistent pile over the entire rug - as with all velvet rugs, the pile is a short pile. There is some minor loss along one side as shown in the detailed photographs. There are two small areas with old moth damage -- there is no current infestation (please see cleaning notes below). The ends are finished off in the traditional method for this weave -- this rug never had any fringe. CLEANING: This rug has been professionally hand cleaned by our own conservation team with a restorative thorough washing adhering to We are proud to be the only dealers to honestly show our thorough hand washing completed on every rug we offer. You can be assured your getting the only gaurenteed thoroughly hand washed rug on ebay. We gladly show our methods so you know your not being lied to or taken advantage of.
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designs of both lighting and stained glass, the "best" carpets of the era were exact reflections of the design motifs and used to compliment the high style decor of the most fastidious home owner.
