Woven Through Time
When Pierre Frey acquired esteemed French decorating company Braquenié in 1991, it also inherited a new expertise: rug-making. Braquenié has its roots in the 1820s and started life as a rug shop in Paris’ Saint-Germain des Prés neighbourhood, later expanding to manufacture its own textiles, too, until it rose to become the preferred supplier for aristocratic 19th-century France.
Today, an archive of more than 5,000 documents means that Pierre Frey has vast resources to draw on, either for its own collections or for its bespoke rug-making service. Its custom-made flooring is a speciality, backed by considerable expertise not just on the creative side but technical skill in materials and finishes: the company has developed 600 shades of wool and 120 shades of silk to create these very special pieces.
Many designs are rooted in the styles of the 18th and 19th centuries, and have a boldness that perfectly suits a maximalist mood, especially when paired with equally exuberant fabrics and wallcoverings. Pierre Frey’s 2020 Rêveries Orientales collection celebrates the decorative arts from every corner of Asia, and so chimes particularly well with the new rug offerings: this Persian-inspired ‘Hamadan’ rug is a hand-knotted wool and silk design based on a 19th-century archive document.
Pierre Frey, First Floor, Design Centre East (open Monday – Friday, 10.30am – 5.30pm)
