[attach id=197449 size="medium"]The bespoke, hand-knotted rug bears the Queen’s crest in the centre.[/attach]
A stunning bespoke knotted rug created by a Maltese company will hang in the sleek royal barge Gloriana, which will lead more than 1,000 ships down the River Thames during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Rug Company – owned by Suzanne and Christopher Sharp – was commissioned to create the floor covering designed by British interior designer Emily Todhunter, who collaborates with the company.
The rug is adapted from Fretwork, a style by The Rug Company and includes the unique Queen’s cypher in the centre.
The design is hand-knotted in sea green Tibetan wool, with the gold motif subtly highlighted in raised silk.
The 4m x 2.1m creation is entirely handmade by highly skilled artisans in Nepal, who use traditional weaving techniques. Three teams of seven weavers worked around the clock to ensure it was ready.
The Rug Company worked closely with Gloriana’s interior designer, Kate Woods of Woods’ Silver Fleet, to select a design and exact colour tones that would suit the interior scheme.
Mr Sharp, company CEO and co-founder, said they were “proud to be asked to make this unique rug to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee”.
The Gloriana “is a remarkable celebration of British heritage, craftsmanship, quality and design, and the rug we have created successfully reflects this,” he said.
“It brings together contemporary design with a classical aesthetic that is in keeping with Gloriana and I’m pleased that it will play an important role in her legacy.”
The 94-foot wooden rowbarge was hand-built by master craftsmen and, with its team of 18 oarsmen including Britain’s Olympian athlete Sir Steven Redgrave, will lead the flotilla of 1,000 boats in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3.
The Sharps are renowned for their craft and last year created a rug commissioned by British Prime Minister David Cameron as a gift for US President Barack Obama.
Founded in 1997, the Rug Company is the brainchild of the Sharps, who opened their flagship store in London when they left Malta after living on the island for six years.
Their first store was a success and The Rug Company has more than 17 shops worldwide, with five in the US and one in Malta.
Each rug is handmade by skilled artisans using the best traditional rug-making skills and with the finest natural yarns.
In 2000, the company established its designer collection – a collaboration with world class designers including Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.