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French Toile’ or Toile de Jouy

I first became aware of toile’ when I was about 16 (1965) and was working for an antique auction house. Some very beautiful antique Victorian loveseats and chairs were covered in an embossed fabric that depicted intricate pastoral scenes of people picnicking or otherwise frolicking amongst lakes and trees. Beautiful, but not my style. But, like many things we never notice until we take time see it for the first time, I started to see this pattern pop-up all over the place. It was on dishes, wall plates, tea pots, pillows, wall paper, bedding, curtains, and even on some guy’s shirt — wait a second… that was me in the 1970s. Anyway, I realized that I had looked past a quite interesting and evidently popular element of my surroundings. I developed a kind of appreciation for toile’, but of course had no desire to decorate my room with it. And, I do not have any tattoos, but I am sure this pattern would not be one of my choice— although it would be unique….
The scenes in toile’are quite varied and complex, but always peaceful and interesting. The backgrounds of toile’ are usually off-white or white. The patterns consist of a single color the most common of which are black, dark red (maroon), and blue. You also see various shades of green, brown and magenta, mostly on curtains and upholstery. This description may be inadequate, but I am sure it is sufficient for you to recognize and finally be able to put a name to this ubiquitous pattern.

There are complete decorating themes built around the toile’ pattern so it is relatively easy to find coordinating fabrics, wall finishes, and décor items. This French Country theme has obviously been around literally for centuries, but recently is making a comeback. D. Lawless Hardware’s only contribution to toile is our line of porcelain ceramic wall plates for outlets and switched. We have them in green, brown and dark red. These plates add the finishing touch to a Toile’ de Jouy room, or used with coordinating wall paint and a few pillows or other accessories they will bring a little “pop” to an otherwise ordinary and unremarkable room. Google “toile” or “French country décor” and you can find many helpful articles for decorating in this popular style.

I always enjoy knowing a little about the origins or history behind just about anything that comes along. So, despite reserving my brain cells for things I consider more important, I have approximately two cells worth of toile history to share. Maybe it will be enough to pique your interest:

A Brief History of Toile de Jouy

A literal translation of Toile’ de Jouy from French to English is “cloth of Jouy”. Jouy-en-Josas is a town in north-central France southwest Paris near Versailles where toile is generally considered to have originated in the late 1700s. The toile’ fabric is named after The Manufacture Royale de Jouy (Royal Factory of Jouy). So, the name is definitely of French origin. But, like the Italians “invented” pizza ( the Babylonians and the Egyptians were eating what looked like a pizza in ancient times) there is a “well..sort of”story. Just as the Italians popularized pizza, the French popularized toile’ and gave it a name. Actually, the motif and patterns were created in 1752 by Drumcorda Printworks in Dublin, Ireland by a guy named Francis Nixon (ancestor of Richard?) using hand-carved wooden blocks to lay down the intricate patterns on cloth. It then made its way into England in 1756 and then to France in the 1770s. So, there you have it—La histoire de toile’. Bon chance!

Our French Toile’ Wall Plates.