Wool rug yellow, blue and red Savonneri

A savonnerie-style drawing

The rug follows the manner of the French manufactories: large gold acanthus curls unfold across the cream field, and flowers sit between them — blue bells, red and powder roses, small forget-me-nots. There are many flowers, but the palette rests on three main tones, so it never becomes busy. The edge is marked by a border with red and blue inserts.

Wool and relief

The fabric is hand-knotted in wool. The outlines of the pattern are sheared at different heights: the acanthus stands above the ground, and the drawing reads even where the colours sit close together. That relief gives a natural play of light — the rug looks three-dimensional without any glossy thread. The wool is springy and furniture marks lift on their own.

Two sizes

250 by 300 cm suits a room where the rug sits under the front legs of the furniture; 300 by 400 cm suits a hall or a dining room where the whole group stands on it. A many-coloured rug works best against calm walls. Neighbouring pieces are in exclusive rugs and wool rugs. A dark alternative of the same format — Rochester 300×400.

Care and light

A relief shear calls for care: vacuum without a beater bar so the raised acanthus outlines are not cut. A many-coloured rug gains from directed light — a floor lamp or a sconce brings out the depth of the drawing. Furniture is better placed on pads, and then the leg marks recover within a day.