HISTORIC ENGLISH ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT REVIVED IN MODERN RUGS

By Arthur Douglas Thayer

The Arts & Crafts style from over a hundred years ago is revisiting  the world of rug design.  In updated versions, of course. The movement, especially its leader William Morris, has  influenced recently introduced collections by Couristan, Loloi, Momeni, Safavieh, Karastan, Trans Ocean and others.

William Morris was one of the best known rug designers of the mid- to late-Victorian era, so it's not surprising to see the rug industry returning periodically to the Morris archives for inspiration. (More on the history of the Arts & Crafts movement, click here)

Renaissance Carpets & Tapestries has reproduced a tapestry by William Morris. He  interpreted in cloth the painting by  his friend Edward Burne-Jones. The Renaissance reproduction is approximately $6,549 for the 6'10" x 9'7" piece.

One of the most dramatic illustrations of the Arts & Crafts revival in Atlanta was seen in the historically correct "The Adoration of  the Magi,?Θ╝VbCrLf a tapestry on display at the Renaissance Rugs & Tapestries showroom.The original was a a painting by Pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne-Jones which currently hangs in the Hermitage museum in Saint Petersburg. His friend, William Morris subsequently interpreted it as a tapestry.

   
  Chelsy collection from Loloi Rugs is hand tufted,
$600 in 5x8.

As in the 1870's to the 1890's, today's Arts & Crafts design are often inspired by nature. The motifs are
floral, organic in nature, but very stylized and more about surface interest than about realistic and accurate representation.

Momeni  Nouveau collection is power-loomed in China with hand carving and hand serging, $439 in 5x8.
 

"Our Nouveau collection is inspired by floral designs from the Arts and Crafts era, also by Art Nouveau and even some touches of Art Deco," said Austin Craley, vice president of sales and marketing for Momeni.

The Nouveau collections is power-loomed of  New Zealand wool and space dyed for a striated antique look. The rugs are made in China  with hand carving and hand serged edges.
       

The new Arts & Crafts designs  tend to be tradition -based, but the colorations reflect today's home fashion colors, according to rug executives.

Safavieh Arts & Crafts collections is hand tufted of
hand-spun wool and retails at $449 in 6x9.

Safavieh's new Arts & Crafts rug collection is based on the work of William Morris, C.A. Voysey, and Gustav Stickley. The rugs are hand tufted of hand spun wool and retail at $449  for 6x9.

"Our Arts & Crafts introductions were William Morris inspired but produced  in today's contemporary colors,?Θ╝VbCrLf said Cyrus Yaraghi, a Safavieh principal.

"The designs we sell as Arts & Crafts are of that time period, but  not as formal and set as William Morris's work.  We have colored them  in very centered and midtone colors, so that the rug palette is softer
and more up to date,?Θ╝VbCrLf  said David Grasse, president of Due Process Stable Trading Co.

Karastan's  William Morris design in the English Manor collect. Wilton woven, it retails for $899 in 5'7?Θ╝VbCrLfx7'11?Θ╝VbCrLf.
 

At Karastan, the English Manor collection is inspired by the rugs and carpeting found in the country homes and estates of Great Britain.

 "One of the reasons for the  success of our English Manor collection is tied directly to its  coordination with broadloom carpeting and runners," said  Anne Carley, merchandising director for Karastan.

Trans Ocean Arts & Crafts design from the Dora collection.  Wilton woven in Belgium of viscose pile.  $250 in 4'9?Θ╝VbCrLfx7'4?Θ╝VbCrLf.
 

Michael Harounian, a principal of Ebisons Harounian Imports, pointed out that the British Arts & Crafts movement was short-lived. The Ziegler rugs from the same time period have been much more successful over the past century, her noted.

"Arts & Crafts patterns tend to be less refined than classical rug design. The irregular format of an Arts & Crafts rug doesn't include the defined symmetry required for a successful rug, " Harounian said.

"Contrast this with the Ziegler rugs from the same period," he added. "They have recently sprouted up again and are doing quite well. " (Ziegler was a German businessman who imported Persian rugs. The overscaled design motifs were developed in Europe and hand knotted in Persia.)

 Original William Morris design from the
Forte Cloth archives.

Forte Cloth, the British-based design house, has access to many archival sources from the Arts & Crafts period, including original William Morris designs. The company, which exhibited in Atlanta, sells customized designs to rug manufacturers and importers worldwide.

Forte Cloth's updated version of William Morris design.

"We have the archives of many of the original William Morris designs. However, those authentic designs do not represent the big growth. The design work is  wonderful, but not as suited to today's home furnishings as a more  up-to-date version.   We have done well with them, but greater success lies in the contemporary and relaxed patterns loosely based of those  original designs,?Θ╝VbCrLf  said Ian Wallace, managing director of Forte Cloth.