Medieval Spain was the first European country to produce hand knotted rugs. It had many influences including those of France, Persia and Italy as well as the diverse populations of the Hispano – Moresque society where Christian, Muslim Arab, Jewish and Berber all intermingled for many centuries. They have a distinct knot woven on an individual warp which differs from the Persian or Turkish knot. Through the Renaissance, rug making followed European trends with wreath and trellis work patterns. Charles III in 1712 founded a workshop in Madrid to compete with the accomplished French workshops of Aubusson and Savonnerie in France.
