An Ode to Irish Weaving

Though Saint Patrick’s Day has come and gone, it seemed appropriate to do a small feature of Donegal Arts and Crafts carpets. 

Although carpet weaving in Donegal is an ancient tradition, the company Donegal Carpets was founded in 1898 by Scottish textile manufacturer Alexander Morton.  Over a period of time, Morton opened a total of 4 factories in County Donegal, putting to practice the techniques of the local people who had been working with wool for generations.

From the 1890s through the 1920s, Ireland experienced a cultural renaissance fueled by a desire to fashion distinctively Irish creations of excellent quality. This movement intertwined current social and political concerns, as notions of the past melded with visions for a better future.

Characteristics commonly associated with Donegal carpets are the use of bright colors, and large scale design elements.

To view our collection of antique Donegal Arts & Crafts carpets on our website click here.

Oriental Influence on European Rugs

Antique rugs were once new production. About 80 – 90 years ago, carpets from the orient were sold at extremely high prices throughout Europe. European manufacturers saw the need to produce such products at lower costs, causing a sweep of production through Europe in places such as Donegal and Axminster.

This is the reason that some Donegal rugs can be found with Turkish Oushak patterns. While the need to produce a product for cheaper dominated the “where” of the production, there was still a desire for the cultural feel of an oriental rug. On top of being less expensive to make, there was also more control over how the product was made.