What is an Axminster Carpet?
An Axminster carpet is a type of pile carpet named for Axminster, a town in Southwest England which continues to produce carpets today. These carpets are made distinctive by their bright colors, and they are traditionally made from wool. Although modern Axminsters are machine-woven, they often retain a handmade look, making them popular for people who want the look and feel of handmade carpets without the significant expense. Some people also associate Axminster with quality, since it has been a renowned name in carpet making for centuries. The history of the Axminster carpet started in 1755, when Thomas Whitty opened a carpet manufacturing company in the town of Axminster. The development of carpet manufacture in England during this period was enabled by laws which were designed to promote locally produced textiles, out of concern that foreign textiles were dominating the market. These early carpets were handmade, and they quickly became very popular among the wealthy; several extant
