Tea at Trianon: Toile de Jouy

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Toile de Jouy

An enchanting fabric, popular in the reign of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, has enjoyed a comeback. Here is a little history:

In the 1770’s Oberkamp produced his first toile. The timing for its introduction was serendipitous. It adhered to the style that is now known as Louis XVI (1774-1792). On the whole, this style was a reaction against the excessive and bizarre fancies of the Louis XV era. Louis XVI returned to the classic ideals. Printed cloth, in particular those known as toiles, became very popular during this era.

Due to the designs that Oberkamp chose for his toiles, it is no surprise that his operation was designated a royal manufactory in 1783. In honor of the occasion, Oberkamp commissioned a special historical toile to celebrate this event. (Read More)

Julygirl said...: An easy fabric to use because its design blends with many decorating styles.; March 20, 2010 at 3:34:00 PM EDT
Lucy said...: I love this fabric. I enjoy using pieces of it in my artwork as well. It's beautiful.; March 20, 2010 at 6:27:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: I love it, too, and have it in my living room.; March 20, 2010 at 6:32:00 PM EDT
tubbs said...: I have always thought that toile was something that reminded my of a granny's boudoir. But lately I've had this diabolic urge to find some naughty toile - something bawdy for the powder room, to startle the sensabilities of, say a visiting vicar, or annoying blue-stocking matron.

... but then if kiddies came to visit, one would have to send them trapsing elsewhere thru the house to use another toidee - and that could be a nuiscance.; March 21, 2010 at 4:03:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: You naughty boy....; March 21, 2010 at 5:59:00 PM EDT
Daniel Espinoza said...: Thank's
Me gusto mucho el blog, y esta entrada. te tengo en mi lista de Blogs.
http://sedconsolacion.blogspot.com; March 21, 2010 at 9:40:00 PM EDT
Space Angel said...: Do you know how this fabric was used for windows originally? How was it draped? Thanks, Myra; May 19, 2010 at 1:14:00 PM EDT