THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND ITS CONTENTS;

CARPET MANUFACTURE, BY HAND LABOUR AND BY
MACHINERY.

("1AKPETS are comparatively a modern

;n England. It was not until tho a.

production—the Kidderminster makers having directed thei
the higher qualities of car-pet manufacture.

attention to

i luxury in Europe, and especially
jventeenth century was somewhat
advanced that carpets were considered a necessary article of furniture by
the wealthy; and it is within the recollection of the present generation
that their presence in the cottage was considered a sure indication of com-
fortable prosperity on tho part of their possessors. Up to a very recent
period, ilooi-s of concrete were all that was felt to be necessary for the
cottage; and the ground-floor of the farm-house could boast of no better
material, whilst the fir or pine boards of the bed-room floor were rarely so
close as to prevent a conversation between tho occupants of an unper and
lower chamber. The more wealthy occasionally indulged in the luxury of
polished deal or oat, and sometimes added the attraction of parquetrie;
but a carpet, if met with, was an imported article—the produce of Persia,
tho shores of the Levant, or Flanders. Persia still produces some carpets
for the European market, and our Turkey carpets for tho di
still from the shores of the Levant; but France has for some years past
supplanted Flanders in supplying our richer classes with those charmi
specimens of design and harmonising colouring which have for a long til
justly placed the French manufacturer as the first and most tasteful of
carpet producers. Persia and Turkey carpets ore now what they alway
were in manufacture, and probably, in the majority of instances, in dc'sigi
also—abounding with strangely fantastic forms, luxuriantly and harmoni-
ously coloured, and manufactured in materials second in durability only
to the floor of which they form the cover. On this account we view tho
exhibition of these carpets in the Indian. Turkish, and Tunisian collections
with much interest. Yet they evidence no progress: whilst those in the
European, especially in the English portion of the Exhibition, show that
the day is probably not far distant when the far north will supply the east
with all that may bo required of this class of goods, aud when the manu-
facture—at least as at present conducted—will become as perfectly extinct
as tho manufacture of cottons for which India was once so renowned. For
there exists, with respect to tho manufacture of carpets in this country,
tho same careful study of tho nature of tiie fabric—the same evidence of
the successful application of mechanical contrivances to cheapen labour
and reduce cost—the same steady progress and marked success in deve-
loping itself—winch c! urn it;'rises the production of cottons of the present
day, as compared with those of the hand-loom weaver of the early part of
the present century.

It may somewhat surprise many of our readers when wo say that there
are but few kinds of carpet, and that the mode of operation pursued by the
different manufacturers of carpets hearing very dissimilar names is precisely
similar—that Tapestry and Tournay, Axminster aud Wilton, are names
that are given at the caprice of the maker, and, in many instances neither
indicate the locality of the manufacture nor the quality of the carpet. In
fact, one of these places, Axminster, hits long ceased to manufact.ire

No portion of the Exhibition offers more pleasing proof of the fact tw
s manufacturers of luxuriant products we are moving forward than that of
carpets. Not only are the designs of many very superior in conception
showing that a knowledge of forms and colours is well understood—W
the presence of some of the finest qualities of Axminster and Wilton
encourage the hope that the highest descriptions of carpet manufacture
such as those of Aubusson and even of.the Gobelins, will ore W-h-
supplied by British manufacturer-. Aim.in,' this class «[' aiil-h,- ,-■,-;.;"■
we notice an Axminster, exhibited l>v her Majesty, manufactured at Ghv.y'-
for Messrs. Doubiggin and Co., from a design by M. Groner. There «
much in this thai indicates the artist, but we cannot think that it will add
to lus reputation as a designer: the design is Italian, and the general form
combines three parallels-rains, a long one as a centre and a smaller one at
each end, the longer sid.es of which extend the width of the carpet. The
border is, in our opinion, stiff in delineation, being principally composed
of geometric and architectural forms : the year 1S51, expressed in Roan.
numerals, is in tho centre, on a tablet of a white ground, surrounded by an
oval band of flowers. A filling of damask pattern in crimson occupiej
the space between the border and centre.

M. SallandrouKe, the justly celebrated manufacturer of the Aubusson
tapestries and the kerseymeres of France, lias a fine display of these mo-
ducts, which worthily sustain his reputation. We think, however, that lie
has been unfortunate in tho work which is evidently intended for the
current year—a tapestry carpet of large dimensions, bearing the royal arms
as a centre, aud covered with devices of typical and emblematical character,
each device being surrounded by a frame of French scroll ornaments. In
the corners are representations of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America ; in
the border we find Poetry and Sculpture, Music and Pain tine. &c.; Com-
mercc and Industry are on each side of the Royal arms, and in the inter-
vening portions. Astronomy and Chemistry, Architecture aud Agriculture
The names and the emblems of the principal seats of manufacture of Great'

a thoso _
irk carpets, in which
ud thoso of a. simple
duccd by hand also; a
ng more than a frame
sedlc-w.

Britain and France are also sh

awn in panels. We have heard thefastidi

object to flowers in carpets,

ut what shall be said of pictures? or i

could reconcile himself to the

notion of treading them underfoot!

Messrs. Jackson aud Giuhai

1, No. 390. are the exhibitors of a " Tounia

or "Axminster," to which the

• have given the name of a -Loudon Carp

Why cannot manufacturers at

roe on an appropriate name for these ha

work carpets, and not conti

ue to puzzle tho public with a variety

merely local names for the

ame class of productions? This is a i

superior specimen of fine Re

laissancc forms and drawings ; the colom

also is unexceptionable, aud w

ould be warm and cheering by artificial li

—a never-to-be-forgotten coi

sidcration in the manufacture of carpets

Mcs

. Wa

instei

d colou

is another carpet
attention; tho cai
The gc

luxurious productions hewing its name. Tapestry
duccd by the needle—they arc, in 'fact, needle-vv
machinery has very limited duties to perform, ;
character. Tournay and Axminster carpets are pn
machine—if such it may bo called—which is notli
such as ladies uso for stretching their canvass for
perpendicularly, and the women occupied in the production are seated
front, and work horizontally. Each thread is knotted to the foundation i
back, and is not in any other way connected with any other thread, and th
is the distinguishing characteristic of the manufacture. There are no co
tinuous threads, as in Turkey and Tapestry carpets—no weaving proee
■ of any kind whatever—no mechanical appliances worthy of partial!
mention. The process- is unquestionably exceedingly primitive, though the
production i,- often i-osnlendiiit with the most marvellous beauties both '
Resign and colour. "Velvet-pile" carpets, " Royal pile," and "Saxon
are all the s.'imc /.■«!<£ cfeai-p^t-the naiues'being ^'iven at the caprice of '._.
manufacturer, and conveying no definite idea of quality. They are each
and all manufactured in tho sumo loom, and are in different degrees the
same fabric, and often the same pattern, as Brussels carpet. In fact, the
worsted loop is the distinguishing characieristic of (he Brussels carpet.
When cut open by an old razor—the tool generally used by the weaver for
the purpose—passing across the carpet, and guided in its course by a
grooved wire over which the loop has been formed, it becomes a " Saxony."
A wire of larger dimensions produces a hu-;;or loop, and this, laid open by
the same primitive process, produces a "Velvet-pile."

Hero, again, we may notice that names are capricious. Brussels has long
fiinco ceased to supply lis with carpets, and carefully ;;u:;rds a-.;ainst our I of prii
produce by prohibitory duties ; e!-c live Ivhldorounsu-r iVimniiacuivr would ',',..
supply Brussels carpets to the city bearing their name. Again Kidder- placed
minster no longer makes the carpet that bears the name of that borough, that i
and we depend on the north of England or the west of Scotland for that tegrit'

coloured ornament foi
carpet, and both these have o
" salmon-coloured " grounds,
centre is filled with a well-di
colours, on a green ground ; perha
ventured on such a display of
" unknown to fame," but whoever
fnl way in which he has dealt w
general carefully avoids—which h
th pi.

Bell, and Co., also exhibit a hand-worked carpet-
n arabesque pattern, with flowers united, correct in

and fitted to bear a close examination of detail. Thcie
liown by this house to which we would direct special

attached to it notifies that it is the design of "Jams

.1 eh

i the

utcr border and centre <
go-tinted, or what is usual
e portion intervening bct\>

iffect by artificial light, but it if

. Turberv
torn and colour,
coloured ground i:
tints that autumi
library or morning
We nowpropos
prein

that i

aith, i

id Co.

Ye sh,

uld bo. oppre

Hunt [

«,%« Arpct

show

carpet of pe

:U tenth

ob*

dark i

.■a in

arpct. about two-fifths of the
arpets, and seven colours arc
.y tho weaver; in cbusequonci
or wear—good material bein
flectod by use—and the desig
united number of colours or s
Whytock's patent was the

of the

gives to them, and forming an excellent pattern
room, with a warm southern aspect.
i to notice the carpets produced by patented proe
■ remarks upon the objects sought to be attained

of these inventions. In the manufacture of Bn

rsiod i

absorbed in the bach of

■atest r

i- that.
costly th
i-t of the

ture of carpets. A tin

strti

itha

that he is permit)
ice applied to the
minted cotton a
ties of this

d drawn out of any pri:
be produced of the pecul1
sful invention. A thread so am
colour that is used in the portioi
and it is manifest that, if the
th

cd i

rder

which

n the s

3 relative posl"
reproduced in its
i patent accomph'1