Toile de Jouy: Printed Textiles in the Classic French Style

This beautiful book draws on the rich collections of the Musée de la Toile de Jouy to produce the first-ever complete history of these textiles. The illustrations include original designs conserved in the museum, exceptional historical examples of clothing and furniture, documents relating to their manufacture and to the founding of the company, and examples of contemporary uses.

When printed and painted cottons from India first appeared in France in the 17th century, there was a reaction to their enormous commercial success and an embargo was placed on their import. In 1759 this ban was lifted, and the Manufacture Royale de Jouy was founded to produce printed cotton fabrics that could compete with the popular imported ones. Within a few years, the factory was the biggest of its kind in Europe and some 30,000 designs were created, many of them the work of renowned 18th-century artists such as Fragonard and Boucher.

The Toile de Jouy textile has become increasingly popular among designers and decorators, who incorporate its classic patterns in upholstery, wallpaper, linens and stationery. For anyone interested in the history of textiles or design, or looking for fresh ideas for interior decor, this book will be an inspiration and a fascinating reference.