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.

Venetian carpet: striped, worsted-warp flat carpet for stairs and passages

Research finding · not yet checked at the source

Date
17th–19th century
Themes
Woven carpet

Cite this source

“Venetian carpet: striped, worsted-warp flat carpet for stairs and passages.” Research note. jimclifford.ca/early_encyclopedia_britannica/articles/1842/eb_7th_1842_004597.html.

Research notes

The 1842 Encyclopaedia Britannica says Venetian carpeting was used mostly for stairs, passages and lobbies, plain versions usually striped with colours shading dark to light. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (object 42932, Venetian carpet, c. 1850–90) describes colourful vertical wool stripes with a linen or hemp weft, and says that by the 18th century such carpets were produced in factories as well as on home looms. Roger Oates (a maker) says the name has nothing to do with Venice and was popular before pile carpets took over (company view). Gap: 'list carpet' (woven from cloth selvages) was not found in any source searched, and no 18th-century Venetian original was found in a museum. Sources: https://jimclifford.ca/early_encyclopedia_britannica/articles/1842/eb_7th_1842_004597.html · https://emuseum.mfah.org/objects/42932/venetian-carpet · https://selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/roger-oates Research note (Oct 2026): from search results; pages not opened.