Brussels Carpet Making
On October 22, 1847, Hopper documented the story of Benjamin Poliner, a Brussels Carpet maker.
Brussels Carpets, classified as loop-pile carpets, are made by looping thick and sturdy fabric in a set pattern. The fabric used in Brussels carpet making is comprised of a strong woven foundation composed of linen and cotton yarns.[1] Ultimately, the durable textile foundation displays a pattern or design of different colored loops.[2] Brussels carpets are noted for the "'definitiveness’ and “smartness” of the design and color[3] and are the most durable of the loop carpets.[4]
Brussels carpets tended to be more expensive than other carpets in terms of manufacturing, although pricing in the nineteenth century was similar for dyes.[5] The reason for the increased price was because the loop design and the intricate textile patterns of the Brussels carpet required the assistance of the Brussels Loom, and not many carpet weavers were trained in the use of the specificity and intricacies of the loom.
[1] A Century of Carpet and Rug Making in America. (New York, NY: Hartford Carpet Company, 1925). 72-73.
[2] Bradbury, 75.
[3] Bradbury, Fred. Carpet Manufacturer. (Belfast, Langdale House, 1904,) 75.
[4] A Century of Carpet …, 73
[5] A Century of Carpet … 72-73.
The Brussels Loom was designed in the early years of the nineteenth-century and was the only Loom with the capabilities to create the thick loops required for the Brussels carpet.