A History of Tufted Rugs

Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Thomas Whitty finishes his first hand-knotted carpet at Axminster on Midsummer Day 1755
Illustration, not the item itself: Royal Axminster Magnificat, 1998, T.191-2000

Thomas Whitty finishes his first hand-knotted carpet at Axminster on Midsummer Day 1755

Research finding · not yet checked at the source · Image permission pending

Made by
Thomas Whitty (b. 1716)
Date
1755
Place
Axminster, Devon
Themes
Woven carpet
View at the source Cited in chapter 3, notes 6, 9, 37

Cite this source

“Thomas Whitty finishes his first hand-knotted carpet at Axminster on Midsummer Day 1755.” Research note. axminsterheritage.org/the-birth-of-axminster-carpets.

Research notes

Hand-knotted, not loom pile: the 18th-century 'Axminster' is knotted by hand; the later machine 'Axminster' (Skinner, 1876; existing record skinner-axminster-1876) only borrowed the name. Whitty ran a cloth business from 1737 and completed his first carpet at midsummer 1755 (Wikipedia; Axminster Heritage). Accounts of his inspiration differ: a Turkish carpet seen at Cheapside market, or the French weavers at Fulham. Axminster Heritage dates the family's production 1755–1835. One Christie's essay gives 1775, apparently a typo. Sources: https://axminsterheritage.org/the-birth-of-axminster-carpets/ · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Whitty · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axminster_Carpets · https://www.britannica.com/topic/Axminster-carpet Research note (Oct 2026): from search results; pages not opened.