Textiles and carpets were previously woven on much smaller and narrower looms than those commercially used today. The traditional ‘body’ width is 27″(approx. 70 cm). This is still the industry standard for stair runners, although wider widths are also woven to accommodate larger width staircases. In the past, stair runners–if there were any at all–were reserved for the back stairs and the servant’s quarters, to cover inferior wood and to deaden the sound of staff clattering up and down.
