SAVONNERIE RUG FROM THE MANUFACTURE ROYALE DE CHAILLOT – 18^th century

This savonnerie rug has a daffodil white background; the French Coat of Arms takes centre stage, surmounted by a fleur-de-lis wreath.

It belonged to a set of five rugs that were commissioned during the early Louis XV era; it was intended for the chapel in the Château de Versailles. These rugs were designed by Pierre Josse Perrot and Jean Baptiste Blin de Fontenay.

The designs were sent to the Manufacture de Chaillot, where the rugs were made from 1723 to 1728. During Louis XV’s reign, the Manufacture made numerous rugs intended for royal residences, and more specifically for the Versailles Chapel. The construction of the Chapel was ordered by Robert de Cotte, who had recently been appointed head of the Manufacture. The Manufacture created rugs with pale backgrounds featuring shells at the centre and the King’s symbol on the corners, accompanied by fleur-de-lis patterns.