Antique Donegal Carpets, woven in the town of Killybegs, County Donegal, from the 1890s onwards, represent some of the most unique and highly sought-after European weavings – originally, a Western interpretation of earlier Turkish Oushak carpets, incorporating a wide array of design elements borrowed from both the Arts and Crafts movement and traditional Celtic art. These pieces are also known for their remarkably high quality, thanks to the centuries-old tradition of wool-working belonging to the people of Donegal – early examples can be found in places as prestigious as Dublin Castle, the University of Notre Dame, and the US Whitehouse.

This piece, dating to the early 20th Century, features a wonderfully open, elegant composition, combining designs from 19th Century Oushak carpets with simplified motifs from Arts and Crafts textiles by designers like Willian Morris and C.F.A. Voysey. The pleasant blue-green colour in the field has taken on a charming patina with age, with a subtle variation in tone which lends depth and charm to the carpet; this forms a great backdrop to the scrolling designs in the spandrels, framed by a wide ivory border of great proportions.

Retained in very good condition for everyday use, this is a timeless example with the versatility to suit a wide variety of spaces.