| |
France
France is located in Western Europe. France is bordered by the English Channel, the Strait of Dover and the North Sea on the north; Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany on the north and northeast; Germany, Switzerland and Italy on the east; Monaco and the Mediterranean Sea on the southeast; Andorra and Spain on the south; and the Bay of Biscay on the west. France occupies an area of 543,965 sq km (210,026 sq mi), including the island of Corsica. The population of France is approximately 58 million, and its capital is Paris.
|
|
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, France was the most important center of rug weaving in Europe. The famous Savonnerie rug workshops, which were established in Paris in 1628, created designs of naturalistic floral arrangements, military, and some architectural motifs. The greatest production period of these elaborate rugs was from 1650 to 1789. |
| During the French revolution in 1825, the Savonnerie workshops moved to Gobelins, and their quality declined ever since. In 1742, Aubusson workshops were established in Aubusson, France. The rugs woven in these workshops were also called Aubusson. At first they copied Turkish designs. Later, they became the simple and less elaborate versions of Savonnerie style. |
|
Today, Savonnerie and Aubusson styles are copied by countries such as China, India and Pakistan; however, France itself does not have a great production any more.
Return
to Top
|
