A History of Tufted Rugs

Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Axminster carpet, probably Thomas Whitty, c. 1780–90
Illustration, not the item itself: Carpet, ca. 1765, attributed to Thomas Whitty, Axminster (a different carpet), 2025.725

Axminster carpet, probably Thomas Whitty, c. 1780–90

Object · not yet checked at the source

Made by
Probably Axminster carpet manufactory, probably Thomas Whitty
Date
ca. 1780–90
Place
Axminster, Devon
Held by
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Number
57.162a, b
Themes
Woven carpet
View at the source Cited in chapter 3, note 10

Cite this source

Probably Axminster carpet manufactory, probably Thomas Whitty. Axminster carpet, probably Thomas Whitty, c. 1780–90, ca. 1780–90. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 57.162a, b. metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/202045.

Research notes

Hand-knotted wool carpet, 23 × 16 ft (701 × 487.7 cm), bought with funds from various donors in 1957; not on view. Tentative attribution ('probably'). The best Met example of the knotted 'Axminster' that loom-woven Wilton and Brussels competed with on price. Sources: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/202045 Research note (Oct 2026): from search results; pages not opened. See also met-928622: the Met's second Whitty carpet, ca. 1765, acquired 2025 (the picture shown here is of that carpet).