03291010 Historic Axminster to Go on Sale at Bonham's in London

HISTORIC AXMINSTER RUG TO BE
AUCTIONED AT BONHAMS IN LONDON

Historic Axminster rug will go on sale in London April 13.

LONDON - An historic 19th Century 40' x 25' Axminster carpet will be sold April 13 at Bonham's, the international art and antiques auction house.  The rug has an estimated value of  £15,000 to  £20,000  ($22,450 to $30,000) 

The carpet belonged to Lord Arthur Hervey, the fourth son of the first Marquess of Bristol. Lord Hervey served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells between 1869 and 1894.

The carpet was in The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset from the late 19^th century until 1999. It was previously, by repute, in Windsor Castle where Bishop Hervey’s brother was curator.

It was manufactured by The Axminster Carpet Factory, which was founded in Axminster, England in 1755 by Thomas Whittly, who invented Axminster carpet construction early in the Industrial Revolution. Carpets from Axminster Carpet Factory are found in Chatsworth House and the Brighton Pavillion. King George III and Queen Charlotte were patrons of the company and visited the factory. George IV commissioned carpets from the factory for various Royal residences.

It is being offered at Bonhams, Knightsbridge as part of the company's sale of Oriental & European Carpets & Rugs.

Other  highlights of the Bonhams sale include a Tabriz carpet with an estimated value of  £35,000 to  £40,000 ($47,000 to $53,800) and an unusual silk Kashan rug with an estimated value of  £12,000 to  £18,000 ($16,000 to $24,000).

Bonhams was  founded in 1793 and is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK.

In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the venerable US auction house.

Today, Bonhams has sales rooms and offices in 25 countries worldwide.

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