ELEGANT PRINTS... The Timeless Look of Toile de Jouy Fabric styles come and go as tastes What is Toile? Early Toiles: Indiennes change and new styles and fibers are Toile de Jouy (pronuounced twahl Often obscured in modern accounts developed. Yet there are some fabrics duh ZHwee) was first created in the of the history of toile fabrics is the which remain perpetually popular. late 18th century in a French textile fact that the popularity of decorative factory in Jouy-en-Josas, outside of cotton fabrics had its roots in These forever fashionable fabrics Paris. The word toile is French for India. In the 17th century, shipping are always a part of the designer’s cloth or canvas and Jouy comes companies brought hand-painted lexicon and are considered classics. from the name of the town. cotton fabrics from India, most in One such style—toile—has been floral designs. around for well over 200 years. Toile fabrics are typically cotton or Let’s celebrate the timeless appeal linen, featuring a white or off-white In France, these printed fabrics—no of Toile de Jouy background with a repeating pattern. matter their origin—were generally The earliest toile patterns were called indiennes dominated by floral motifs. Later (French for “Indians”). They were fabrics depicted vignettes of general also known as toiles peintes life in the 18th and 19th century, (“painted cloths”) and toiles such as pastoral scenes, hunting imprimés (“printed cloths”). scenes, chinoiserie, military triumphs, antique follies, and farm life. Indiennes were immensely popular and the demand for the brightly- The design on most toiles is colored fabrics threatened the rendered in a single color, most success of the wool and silk often black, dark red, or blue. industries, leading Louis XIV to ban Greens, browns, and magenta toile the importation and production of patterns can also be found, but they these fabrics in 1686. However, are less common. illegal production flourished all over Toile is most often associated with France during this time to satisfy the fabrics (draperies and upholstery in enormous demand for these cottons. particular) and wall papers. Impossible to enforce, the ban was Toile de Jouy, circa 1784. Pattern finally lifted in 1759, paving the way celebrating a hot air balloon ascent. for a thriving industry.

Superior Service, Smart Solutions PAGE 1 COPYRIGHT 2016 Enter Monsieur Oberkampf Where Are They Now? In 1760 Christophe-Philippe Many of the oldest toile blocks Oberkampf, an engraver and and copper plates have been lost, colorist from Wurtenberg, but the archives of the Oberkampf established a factory in Jouy- factory were purchased by en-Josas, printing toile fabrics Braquenie, now owned by Pierre of superb quality with colorfast Frey. Historical designs are being dyes. By 1805, the operation faithfully reproduced for today’s sprawled over 35 acres with over interiors. Other, more contemporary 1300 workers, becoming the most fabric houses are producing important factory in Europe. updated versions of toile, assuring Beginning with traditional wood block that the classic popularity of this printing, the factory soon adopted fabric style will continue into the the new copper plate method A thoroughly modern take on toile. Hand next century! that allowed very fine detail to be Printed Iguana on Linen Timorous Beasties achieved. Several years later, printing (Glasgow). The Aftercare Pros! Got a question about a fabric or became even more mechanized with floor covering? We are happy to the use of copper rollers, allowing Though toile fabrics were produced answer it for you. Trust the experts production of hundreds of yards of (and still are) in mills in other parts at Fiber-Seal to offer the latest fabric in a single day. of France and in other countries, the name Toile de Jouy has become information on the proper care for the common “formal” term for all of your soft surfaces. virtually all toiles. You can also connect with us on our social media networks!

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Superior Service, Smart Solutions PAGE 2 COPYRIGHT 2016