An Aubusson pile carpet, France

woven with central floral wreath medallion enclosing `rose moresque', surrounded by scrolling acanthus leaf rinceaux incorporating baskets of flowers and foliate and floral sprigs, against a green field, with ribbon entwined floral border (with two cut-out sections of repair in the borders)

Palais Galleria, Etienne Ader, Paris, 3rd April 1968, lot 137; Provenance Altese Royale la Princesse Louise-Adélaïde de Bourbon-Condé, fondatrice du Monastère Saint-Louis du Temple

Colours in reality prettier, and not as orange in hue. Crisper and more defined appearance in reality. Pile overall very good 6-7mm. Some minor localised wear to knot-bars. Oxidisation in browns especially outer border, upper left corner. It has section (157 by 29cm) cut and joined in border along lower edge (fireplace) and another similar section (160 by 28cm), adjacent right hand edge which has been cut and replaced with later rewoven inset. It would benefit from a clean. There are various marks and stains, in areas (dark grey spots, brown marks and a mauve/purple coloured stain). An elegant carpet in usable condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This carpet is evocative of the classical and elegant Empire style adopted across Europe and the design is representative of those used in the originals of Jacques-Louis de La Hamayde de Saint-Ange-Desmaisons (known as Saint-Ange (1780-1860). He was the most influential designer of Savonnerie carpets during the second half of the First Empire (1804-1814) and most of the Bourbon Restoration period (1814-1815). Saint-Ange studied with Neoclassical designers, Charles Percier and Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart, and later designed for the porcelain manufactory at Sèvres and for the Gobelins. He was appointed designer at the Mobilier Impérial in 1816, and later under the new regime at the Mobilier de la Couronne. It was in this role that he designed carpets for Savonnerie (1810-1831). His Neoclassical designs were widely imitated by the well known workshops, including Tournai, Beauvais, Aubusson, and many were of comparable quality.  The cartoons for the designs were obtained by the workshops, and this included by the independent workshops of Aubusson, from French Government agencies and were often those used by the Savonnerie. Identifiable motifs from Saint-Ange's lithograph designs for the woven carpets include the large central medallions with `rose moresque', scrolling ribbon bound floral borders, scrolling colourful acanthus leaves, corner roundels, flowering stem borders, flower filled cornucopiae, and the use of shades of rose pinks and golden yellows against green or cerise grounds.

For examples of his motifs in gouache designs, and for an example of a carpet influenced by the Saint-Ange designs, see Sherrill, Sarah B, Carpets and Rugs or Europe and America, Abbeville Press, 1996, pg. 92, pl.99, Charles X Savonnerie Carpet, circa 1820 (Sotheby's, New York, 4^th November 1989, lot 323 (approx. 18ft. x 15ft. 6in.), From the Collection of Baron Alain de Gunzberg.