Carpet
Robert Adam (Kirkcaldy 1728 - London 1792)
Category
Carpets, rugs and mats
Date
1770 - 1779
Materials
Wool
Measurements
5210 mm (Width); 8490 mm (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 772424
Caption
This carpet with a floral ‘mosaic’ pattern was designed by Robert Adam, the famous 18th century designer and architect. Adam designed the carpet to echo the ceiling in the drawing room.
Summary
Hand tufted pile carpet. The design consists of a central oval rosette with fan frame within beaded mosaic bands. The outer frame composed of Greek 'Erectheum' neck ornament, as for Ionic columns, of pamettes and husks, supported by scrolls. Corner spandrel with a flower spray bound by ribbon. Field of carpet studded with giant flowers, alternating eight petal flowers and acanthus whorls, interspersed with four petal flowers creating a mosaic pattern. A floral guilloche pattern is created by entwined tendrils of vines and strings of husks surrounding the flowers. All set within three further decorative borders.
Provenance
Osterley Park Heirloom
Marks and inscriptions
none found
Makers and roles
Robert Adam (Kirkcaldy 1728 - London 1792), designer