An Antique Rug For The Booth Library

By Shannon Hicks

They have never lived in Newtown and until last month had never stepped foot in the town’s library, yet two Greenwich residents recently decided to donate a beautiful antique rug to C.H. Booth Library.

Bettye and Ralph Bailey were celebrated recently during a reception in the third floor formal sitting room of the library, which is where the rug that formerly graced the living room of their second home has taken up residence. About 16 years ago the couple purchased a house in Dorset, Vt., which had just been fully renovated and came with nearly everything already in it. The Aubusson rug that is now part of Booth Library’s permanent collection was not going to be part of the deal initially.

The previous owner was related to an interior designer, who had found the rug in a London gallery. It has been dated to circa 1720 and the decorator, who was using the house as a showplace for her introduction to designer magazines, did not want to part with the rug at first. The Baileys talked her into selling it to them, however, and the rug stayed in Dorset.

Aubussons are fine flat carpets woven in France during the 15th to 19th Centuries. The rugs get their name from the central France town that was the center of the carpet production, which really exploded during the mid 17th Century.

While Aubussons were at first woven with designs based on Turkish models, the Baileys’ rug is typical of the tapestries that were woven during the 18th and 19th Century, with a design of flowers, bouquets and architectural motifs. The library’s new addition is predominantly beige and rose colored.

About five years ago Mrs Bailey decided it was time for the house to undergo renovations once again, and that included redoing the living room. Formerly done in a Federal style, the living room was given a more modern look. Up came the large Aubusson and in its place went a needlepoint carpet.

The Aubusson was professionally cleaned and repaired by Peter Pap Oriental Rugs in Brattleboro, Vt. The original idea was to then sell the rug, but after Mr Pap offered it in Vermont and then in a Manhattan gallery and did not get the price the Baileys were looking for, the Baileys decided to put the rug into storage.

Enter Betsy Kenyon, a Newtown resident and friend of the Baileys. She had visited the Vermont house and number of times and remembered the rug fondly, Mr Bailey said during the reception.

“Betsy was visiting us and brought up the idea of donating the Aubusson to the library,” said Mr Bailey.

The rug fits surprisingly well into the archival dining room of the library.

“It’s almost as if the room was designed around the rug,” Jean St Jean said on July 25 during a reception to thank the Baileys. “The colors are so perfect, and the design is just lovely.”

The rug almost did not make it to the library, however. According to Mr Bailey, the first time measurements of the rug and room were compared, it did not look like the two elements would make a good match.

“After the first measurements it looked like the rug would be a shade too large,” said Mr Bailey. “The second time things were measured it turns out it’s a perfect fit.”

The Garden Club of Newtown hosted the reception for the Baileys. Library staff, board members and Garden Club members were invited to meet Mr and Mrs Bailey and some of their family to celebrate the donation of the rug to the library. The reception also followed a recent repainting of the walls of the formal room. Garden Club president and interior designer Beth Cluff worked with librarian Connie Urso to select a color that would work within the library while complementing the rug.

“Connie thought that it would be helpful to the room if we could change up the paint a little bit or do something to make the rug seem a part of the room,” Ms Cluff said. “Since I am an interior decorator, it fell upon me to choose the paint color. Connie and her son then did the painting themselves.

“The entire process [of updating the room] was very much a group effort,” she continued. “The Garden Club donated the paint, I donated inspiration, and Connie donated the manpower.”

The Garden Club hosted the reception for the Baileys, it holds most of its meetings at the library, and has always had ‘a nice connection’ with the library, said Ms Cluff. Combined with the fact that 2007 is the 75th anniversary of the library, the reception and the help with updating the formal room for the rug “is sort of the Garden Club’s gift to the library,” said Ms Cluff.

As the Baileys were joined by friends and family during the evening reception on July 25, Mr Bailey was reflective about the gift he and his wife have given to Newtown and its library.

“One can only wonder, when you look at a rug that old, how many feet had trod on it,” said Mr Bailey. Who were they? Where have they been? One can only imagine.

“Tonight is the first time we’re seeing it in its new home and I just couldn’t be more pleased,” he said. “I think it’s in its final resting place. We’re very happy to be here tonight, to see our old friend, our rug. I couldn’t think of a better place for it.

“I’m very impressed with the library,” said Mr Bailey. “I had envisioned a smaller library and this one is not only large, but well appointed. I’m very impressed with it.”