Wilton Carpets
E-mail us for a quote or information on any Wilton Carpet.
We send out free sample swatches!
We carry most of the wilton lines by the various mills, and stay underpriced!
Visit some of these mills to see various wilton styles.
Click here to see some beautiful wilton area rugs we have custom made
Woven Wilton area rugs can make a spectacular addition to your home!
Visit our newsletter, The Beauty of Wilton Carpets.
Brussels and Wilton carpets are today just a small percentage of the overall production of the town of Kidderminster, in the early 19th century they were the major products of the town. Brussels carpets are a level loop carpet where the wool not exposed as pile is carried in a dense backing - colors are drawn to the surface as needed for the pattern, and up to five colors can be used in a single row. By alternating colors, or 'planting the colors' in the rows, many more accent colors can be skillfully introduced into the pattern. Brussels carpets were first woven in the early 18th century, and by the late 18th century Kidderminster was the main center of production for Brussels.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Byzantine Beauty by Rosecore | Bourbon Street Collection by Schumacher |
Famille Rose by Nina Campbell | Rondell Trellis with oudh border by Nina Campbell |
Wilton carpets have the same structure as Brussels but the pile is cut open and sheared, producing a velvet-like quality. Although increased mechanization has equalized the pricing, in the 18th and 19th century the velvet pile of Wilton was roughly double the cost of Brussels.
During the Regency (in the U.S. the Federal period) Brussels Carpets
were the height of luxury for all but the wealthiest homeowners, and Wilton carpets were an extra luxury that few could afford. By the mid-nineteenth century it became common to make the best showing with a Wilton carpet in the best parlor or drawing room , and to use the
less expensive Brussels carpet in the lesser rooms of a dwelling. The choice was a personal one, of taste and economy, and every visitor would know instantly the type of expense laid out in the decorating by the quality of carpet.
Merchants brought Brussels, and later Wilton, carpets to the United States in large quantities starting in the 1790's. Customers found the best selection at major ports, such as Philadelphia, New York and Boston, even after the domestic carpet industry developed in the second quarter of the 19th century. Carpets, made up in 27" widths and usually sewn together on site, were relatively easy luxuries to transport, and the merchants in the largest cities offered the best prices and the latest designs. An early view of a carpet showroom is a trade card showing the W.P. Tenny Carpetings establishment in Boston, Massachusetts, in the early 1850's. Clients are shown inspecting carpet bales arranged around the room and down the center. Each bale contains enough carpet to fit a modest size room wall-to-wall, which was the most common practice. A later view shows a turn-of-the-century showroom in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the carpet selection shown includes Wilton, Brussels and Axminster in the narrow 27" wide bales, and on the bottom level are Ingrain (Kidderminster) carpets, which were woven at a 36" width
Wilton and Brussels carpets remain one of the highest grades and longest wearing of woven carpets. The revival of interest in these carpets is largely due to today's fashion for period interiors, and the continued efforts of museums and homeowners toward greater authenticity of pattern, coloring and design in historic interior design interpretation. The Stourvale Mill collection offers an unparalleled selection of historic Wilton and Brussels designs of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th century.
Cleaning Products for your beautiful Wilton Rug or Carpet
We can coordinate area rugs to match your fabric, wallpaper, paint, etc! Just send us a swatch and we'll send you 3 coordinating samples to choose from absolutely FREE!
Call or email us for a quote!
434-392-7068
rugrats@rugratsva.com
Fax 434-392-8945
