Aubusson

Aubusson , town (1993 est. pop. 5,546), Creuse dept., central France, in the former province of Marche, on the Creuse River. Its famous tapestry and carpet manufactures date from the 15th cent. Aluminum, electric lamps, and rubber goods are also made. Aubusson is the seat of a school of decorative arts and a museum of tapestry.

Aubusson tapestries. Tapestries produced at Aubusson in central France. Production of tapestries began there in the 16th century and its greatest period was the second half of the 18th century, when large quantities of hangings and furniture coverings were woven with pastoral and chinoiserie designs by Oudry, Boucher, and Huet. During the 19th century skilful reproductions of earlier pieces were made, and in the 20th century it was in the forefront of modern tapestry design, notably through the work of Jean Lurçat.