Royal Tapestry Factory

The Royal Tapestry Factory is a manufacturing plant located in Madrid, Spain, which was founded in 1720.The factory was founded by Philip V after Spain lost its Belgian territories, and their tapestry workshops, as a result of the Peace of Utrecht. The project was one of a number of mercantilist initiatives undertaken in the eighteenth century in the Madrid area to supply luxury goods.Like its French counterpart the Gobelins Manufactory, the Royal Tapestry Factory supplied the court with tapestries. While still in his 20's the painter Francisco Goya was commissioned to provide designs for tapestries to furnish El Escorial and El Pardo, two of the palaces in the Madrid region. Many of the Goya tapestry cartoons are displayed at the Museo del Prado.In the 1990s the factory was running at a loss and received a bail-out from public funds. It became a foundation under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture with the aim of providing a secure basis for the future. Although further issues related to profitablility have been reported, the factory still produces traditional tapestries and carpets.The continued rent-free residence of the former owner and factory director, Livinio Stuyck, in a 700m2 duplex apartment atop the factory has resulted in allegations of squatting, and an attempt to impose fines.