280 ON THE MANUFACTURE OF GOBELINS TAPESTRY 
actual works of the manufacture of GoLelins are only united to the 
industry of these celebrated dyers from having the same r workshop for 
dyeing, common to the two manufacturers of crown tapestry. 
Henri IV. also established, about 1604, in ihe galleries of the Louvre, 
a workshop of carpets called " a la facon de Perse et de Turquie " 
(Persian and Turkey carpets), under the direction of Pierre du Pont, a 
skilful tapestry maker, and this was the beginning of the celebrated 
manufacture " de la Savtmnerie," founded by Louis XIII. in the house 
of this name, on the Quai de la Conference, in the place actually 
occupied by the military. 
The house of Savonnerie was originally a soap manufactory. The 
Queen, Marie de Medicis established* there, in 1614, by royal patent the 
seventh day of May, " poor children, to be lodged, fed, and instructed in 
the fear of God, and in making several w r orks in linen, cloth and 
others. . . . 7> Simon Lourdet, pupil of Pierre du Pont, afterwards 
his partner, opened there, at an epoch which we cannot determine, but 
which is anterior to the year 1626, a workshop for carpets, " facon du 
Perse et du Levant," (Persian and Levant make). Pierre du Pont never 
lived there, as we are assured by different acts.(a) 
The 17th April, 1627, both of them received from Louis XIIL, the 
conclusive right to this industry, a pension of 1,500 livres and letters of 
nobility for themselves and their children, born or to be born, in legiti- 
mate marriage, who might follow and maintain the said art and manu- 
facture. 
The manufacture of tapestries fagons de Flanders, left to itself, 
after the death of Henri IV., appears to have suddenly experienced the 
fate of the greater number of the establishments founded by this 
sovereign. In the year 1612 there only remained the manufactures of 
silks at Lyons, at Tours, and in the South of France. 
Marc de Comans and his partner Francois de la Planche solicit ed 
from Louis XIII. the confirmation of their privileges, and obtained, the 
8th April, 1625, new letters patent for "... the continuance of the 
fabric and manufacture of tapestries ' fagon de Flandres, 1 for eighteen 
years, to commence at the expiration of the term granted by the late 
king." In 1629, they resigned the direction of this establishment in 
favour of their sons, Charles de Comans and Raphael de la Planche, 
but these not being able to agree, solicited and obtained authority to 
exercise their industry separately ; Charles de Comans remained with 
the Gobelins, Raphael de la Planche established himself au faubourg 
Saint Germain, in a place which has since been united to the hospice 
de Manages. This separation took place in 1633. 
Charles de Comans died in December, 1634, and was replaced by his 
brother Alexander de Comans ; Raphael de la Planche, treasurer to the 
(a) A patent of the last day of September, 1637 exempts P. du Pont from the 
obligation of residing in the house of Savonnerie. The register of his death 
proves that he continued to inhabit the galleries of the Louvre. 
