An Important Early 20th-Century Arts & Crafts Donegal Custom Commission Carpet

Attribution: Designed by Gavin Morton (1867–1954) for Alexander Morton & Co. (Killybegs, Ireland)
Circa: 1911–1913 (with a continuous lineage extending from 1898 design prototypes.
Dimensions: 210 cm x 126 cm
Design: Bold Geometric Interpretation of the Persian Mina Khani (Pomegranate/Rosette) Motif
Certification: Confirmed genuine antique Donegal by Farnham Antique Carpets

Executive Summary & Rarity Factors

This represents a vanishingly rare, uniquely specified artifact from the pinnacle of the British Arts & Crafts movement. While standard-production Donegal carpets of the era were woven on heavy wool foundations for stock retail (most notably through Liberty & Co. of London), this specific piece features an unprecedented structural blueprint: a dense cotton foundation, double-colored selvedges, and an armored, two-inch flat-woven header fringe.

These structural modifications represent a deliberate, high-specification architectural commission. The rug was engineered from inception to withstand heavy footfall while maintaining perfect dimensional stability, perfectly mirroring the floor plan of the main hall at Hill Close, Studland, Dorset—the iconic studio house designed by C.F.A. Voysey.

Historical Provenance

1911–1939: The Sir Herbert Cook Commission
Following the 1904 departure of the home's original owner, playwright Alfred Sutro, the property was held as an unfurnished rental until its purchase in 1911 by renowned art collector and connoisseur Sir Herbert Cook. Cultivating a direct relationship with architect C.F.A. Voysey (who designed the estate’s lodge and boathouse in 1913), Cook commissioned this rug from Alexander Morton & Co. to serve as the structural centerpiece of the windowless main hall.
1939–1945: The Wartime Garrison
Upon the outbreak of World War II, Lady Mary Cook relocated to her Cornwall estate, leaving the heavy interior fittings of Hill Close intact. The property was requisitioned by the British Military. The carpet remained in situ throughout the war, enduring the heavy use of military personnel—a chapter of history preserved in its unique, forensically verified wear patterns.
1945–1970: The Post-War Estate
The rug remained inside the protected family estate until the historic Savills Estate Auction of 1970, where it is explicitly documented in situ in the main hall within the original sales brochure photography.
1978–Present: The Attic Vault
Purchased out of the 1970 auction, the rug was relocated by its subsequent owners in 1978 and placed into a dry, dark, climate-stable attic. Vaulted away from sunlight and atmospheric wear for nearly half a century, the vegetable-dyed palette retains an extraordinary, museum-grade saturation level.

Forensic & Structural Analysis

The Palette: A masterclass in Gavin Morton's "dopamine" color theory. The field features a radiant, unfaded terracotta-orange ground, punctuated by vibrant, stylized light-indigo Mina Khani rosettes and balanced by a rich pink border.
Condition & Wear Verification: The rug has undergone a comprehensive forensic wear assessment by a 22-year veteran of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) and oriental rug specialist. The report confirms that the specific pile compression and relational foundation wear align flawlessly with the directional foot-traffic patterns dictated by the architectural doors and walkways of the Hill Close main hall as documented in 1970.

This offering represents an unrepeatable opportunity for textile scholars, Arts & Crafts collectors, and institutional archives to acquire a custom-tailored piece of British architectural history.

Please email offers to or if you require more information to epicrugcompany@gmail.com

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