Spain and Portugal
SPAIN
Carpet making in Spain goes back to the 14th century. The centres of Alcaraz and Cuenca are well known. In the 18th century a royal factory was established in Madrid, which produced both pile carpets and tapestry woven carpets.
PORTUGAL
Portugal is best known for its exceptional needlework carpets, which are known as Arraiolos. Carpets were certainly produced as early as the 16th century. Many of the models used were copied from the prized Ottoman and Persian carpets that had been imported, but in Arraiolos work the colourways were altered to local taste.
Rare "Chinoiserie" Cuenca Carpet
Price on application
Spain, dated 1780
16ft 9in length x 12ft 2in width
5.11m x 3.71m
Provenance:
Arthur Byne collection
Cristóbal Balenciaga collection
-
Arraiolos Needlework Carpet
Price on application
Portugal, End 17th Century
10ft 9in length x 5ft 6in width
3.28m x 1.68m -
Arraiolos Needlework Carpet
Price on application
Portugal, Beginning 17th Century
8ft 0in length x 4ft 7in width
2.44m x 1.40m
