Savonnerie Manufactory

The Savonnerie Manufactory was a prominent French production center specializing in luxury carpets and woven textiles, active over a significant span of time, operating from 1630 until 1772. The manufactory’s long period of activity encompasses major shifts in decorative arts, from the elaborate designs of the Baroque era to the lighter elegance of the Rococo style.

As a Royal Manufactory, Savonnerie output consisted of highly detailed, often large-scale textiles, demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship. Nine documented textiles attributed to the manufactory are preserved in museum collections, establishing their high standard of production. These works frequently employ symbolic and naturalistic elements, focusing particularly on intricate floral arrangements.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds several important examples of the manufactory’s output. Key works represented in this collection include the textile designated simply as Panel, along with specific still-life compositions such as Flowers in a golden vase, with a parrot and Flowers in a silver vase. Other notable designs feature symbolic elements, including the work titled Trophies and birds. The artistic legacy of the Savonnerie Manufactory continues to be recognized for its historical and museum-quality craftsmanship. High-quality prints of their designs are often available due to the early date of the works, many of which reside in the public domain.