Scotch Carpets

[alice]

I'm reading a very interesting book by Peter Thornton called "Authentic Decor, The Domestic Interior 1620-1920". In it he mentions "scotch carpets", term I hadn't heard before. When I looked it up I found that it was the same as ingrain (the name most used here in America) or Kidderminster carpets, a popular weaving technique back in the 19th C. that is no longer popular.

I've seen examples of the ingrain and Kidderminster, but I haven't seen examples of the Scottish patterns, and my web search turns up articles but no pictures. Does anyone have a web or book source that they might point me to?

alice

 

[Nemesis]

Scotch carpets were flatweave as opposed to raised pile carpet:

http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/Default.aspx?Id=217

In recent times there has been a revival of interest in flatweave, with manufacturers such as Roger Oates producing them.

 

[alice]

Thanks! The scotch carpet style sample you pointed to is quite a bit different in style than what I am used to seeing in ingrain carpet. The style I've seen is more like an American jaquard weave coverlet or like this...

http://www.familyheirloomweavers.com/cat/Carpet.html

I'll have to look at more samples. Thornton, while showing interiors from the UK, US, Europe and Russia, doesn't differentiate between the American, English and Scottish styles of ingrain carpet. His book is very extensive (over 350 pages, each with multiple plates) and he gets very detailed about the interiors but he's more interested in the furniture, room architecture and curtains than the wallpapers and carpets.

alice

 

[Nemesis]

The recent restoration of Wordsworth House, Cockermouth, Cumbria, I have just recalled has a flatweave carpet in the hallway.

I recall thinking how gaudily modern it looked, although it was, I am sure, authentic and well-researched.

I think I need to go back and study in more detail... geometric patterns.

I suspect as with all things patterns changed over time to suit the prevailing fashions and foreign influences.