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ID #SA1003090
FOR SALE
£3,950
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Antique Donegal Rug
For sale by Farnham Antique Carpets
for sale €4,622     $5,017
£3,950
Farnham Antique Carpets

Farnham Antique Carpets

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2018
Browse dealers 330 items
  • About Us
    Specialists in antique decorative carpets, rugs and runners.
  • Trade Associations
    Farnham Antique Carpets is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA 
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Id #SA1003090
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Antique Donegal Rug

1900 - 1920
Description

A sweet small antique Donegal rug woven in Killybeg's town in Ireland around 1920-1930.  Beautiful colours and a dense wool pile, well drawn and in very good original condition.

The first Donegal carpets were made in the late 1890s when the Scottish industrialist, Alexander Morton, opened a factory in Killybeg's. Morton was head of a textile manufacturing firm in Ayrshire. Although his factories already made machine-woven rugs, he wanted to make handmade carpets like those popular from Turkey and Persia.  A chance meeting with a member of Ireland's Congested Districts Board pointed him towards Donegal. The county had two things to offer: a ready supply of willing workers and an almost infinite number of sheep.

Please request a home visit to choose a suitable time and day to view this antique Donegal rug in-situ.  We offer the service of viewing any of our carpets & rugs in-situ in London, Surrey, Hampshire & anywhere else in the UK by appointment.

Date of Manufacture

Farnham Antique Carpets has dated this Antique Donegal Wool Rug to the 1920s.

Physical Dimensions
Height
195cm (76.77")
Width
86cm (33.86")
Depth
5cm (1.97")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1003090
Dealers Internal Reference
9678
Dealers Notes

Farnham Antique Carpets are specialists in antique decorative carpets, rugs and runners. Varying from antique tribal rugs woven in the Caucasus to classical Persian carpets dating from the mid 19th century to the early 20th century.

As members of the BADA - The British Antique Dealers Association and LAPADA - The Association of Art & Antique Dealers we adhere to strict guide lines as affiliated members and pride ourselves on maintaining its high standards. We exhibit at the BADA fair in Chelsea, London every March and the LAPADA Fair in Mayfair, London every September.

Description
A sweet small antique Donegal rug woven in Killybeg's town in Ireland around 1920-1930.  Beautiful colours and a dense wool pile, well drawn and in very good original condition.
“
The first Donegal carpets were made in the late 1890s when the Scottish industrialist, Alexander Morton, opened a factory in Killybeg's.
Farnham Antique Carpets

Morton was head of a textile manufacturing firm in Ayrshire. Although his factories already made machine-woven rugs, he wanted to make handmade carpets like those popular from Turkey and Persia.  A chance meeting with a member of Ireland's Congested Districts Board pointed him towards Donegal. The county had two things to offer: a ready supply of willing workers and an almost infinite number of sheep.

fig 1. An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background.
fig 1. Antique Donegal Rug

Please request a home visit to choose a suitable time and day to view this antique Donegal rug in-situ.  We offer the service of viewing any of our carpets & rugs in-situ in London, Surrey, Hampshire & anywhere else in the UK by appointment.

Date of Manufacture

Farnham Antique Carpets has dated this Antique Donegal Wool Rug to the 1920s.

Height
195cm (76.77")
Width
86cm (33.86")
Depth
5cm (1.97")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1003090
Dealers Internal Ref
9678
Farnham Antique Carpets
Farnham Antique Carpets
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2018

Specialists in antique decorative carpets, rugs and runners.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Farnham Antique Carpets Profile Page

Trade Associations

Farnham Antique Carpets is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA 

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An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background.
1 / 7
Archive I An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background.

Antique Donegal Rug

Archive II An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background. View II
Archive III An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background. View III
Archive IV An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background. View IV
Archive V An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background. View V
Archive VI An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background. View VI
Archive VII An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background. View VII
Enlarged Archival View
Farnham Antique Carpets

Farnham Antique Carpets
Telephone 01252 851215
Location
Crondall
Surrey
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/farnhamantiques
Verified Since Oct 2018
Items For Sale 330
Items Sold 527
Farnham Antique Carpets
Farnham Antique Carpets
Verified Since Oct 2018
View Dealer Info
Location: Crondall, Surrey, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/farnhamantiques
Verified
Oct 2018
For Sale
330
Sold
527
An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background.
Antique Donegal rug
Ref: SA1003090
An antique hand-knotted wool Donegal rug featuring a central stylised floral motif surrounded by a scrolling leaf border in shades of teal, pink, and yellow on a neutral beige background.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
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Detail View 6
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectRugs and Carpets
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleArts and Crafts
  • MaterialWool, Cotton
  • ColourBeige
  • MotifsStylised botanical motifs, Floral border, Scrollwork, Central sunflower design
  • SizeH 195 cm (77 in) x W 86 cm (34 in) x D 5 cm (2 in)

This antique Donegal rug dates from 1920 in the Arts and Crafts style, woven from wool and cotton with a dense pile. The composition includes a central yellow and green sunflower design flanked by pink and blue floral motifs, intricate scrollwork, and a repeating floral border along the edges, all set against a neutral beige background. Additional visual details comprise soft teal, pink, olive green, and yellow colour tones within the botanical motifs and woven border work. Measuring 195 cm high by 86 cm wide and 5 cm deep, the piece is well-proportioned for placement on a hallway floor, beside a bed, or as a decorative accent in a sitting room.

FAQs

Donegal rugs from the Arts and Crafts era are characterised by hand-knotted construction, flat botanical motifs, and muted, natural colour palettes. Originating in Ireland around the turn of the 20th century, these designs often draw inspiration from Celtic Revival art and prominent designers like C.F.A. Voysey and Gavin Morton.

Traditional Donegal carpets were hand-knotted using coarse, durable hand-spun wool pile woven onto a heavy cotton warp and weft. Craftspeople employed Turkish Ghiordes knots, resulting in a thick, textured pile and long-lasting floor covering.

Authenticity can be verified by inspecting the weave on the reverse, which should show uneven hand-knotted structure rather than machine uniformity. Look for characteristic Arts and Crafts stylized floral patterns, soft vegetable-dyed colours, and heavy wool construction typical of the Alexander Morton & Co hand-knitting workshops in Killybegs.

Place the rug on neutral wooden or polished concrete flooring to make the muted teal and pink hues stand out. Its soft floral motifs contrast well with clean-lined contemporary furniture while adding historical character to modern spaces.

Vacuum regularly using suction only, avoiding rotating beater bars that can snag hand-knotted fibres. Use a quality rug underlay to prevent uneven wear, rotate the carpet annually to equalize light exposure, and rely on professional hand-washing specialists for deep cleaning.
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