Toile de Jouy was created by
Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf. Born 11 June 1738 in Germany, Oberkampf came to
Paris in 1758 to work as an engraver and colourist in textile printing. He
rapidly rose to business partner, moved the factory to Jouy where the first
length of cotton was printed on 1 May 1760. In 1770, Oberkampf became a French
citizen. In 1783, his factory received the title of “Manufacture Royale”. By
the end of the Ancien Régime, the business was second largest in France behind
the Gobelins.
During
the events of 1789, Oberkampf proved himself a man of political ideals. He was
elected the first mayor of Jouy-en-Josas in 1790.
By
1805, the factory was employing 1,322 workers as the Toile de Jouy enjoyed great
success. In 1806, he won a First Class Gold Medal for his pioneering role in the
manufacture of printed textiles in France. The same year, he received the Légion
d’Honneur awarded by Napoléon himself on a visit to the factory. In 1810, he
obtained the Grand Prize of the decade for his achievement in science and art.
He was a benevolent and generous spirit, commanding great loyalty and trust from
his employees. He ran the factory until his death in 1815. By 1818, the business
produced 1.5 million metres of fabric. The factory closed in 1843.
For
most of the 20th century Toile de Jouy was considered old fashioned
and thought to belong to stuffy Bourgeois interiors. The vogue for shabby chic
and French interiors means that Toile de Jouy is now enjoying a revival in our
homes and our closets. It is seen as quirky when mixed with other styles in
modern settings. At last it can be appreciated for its beautiful classical
designs alone without the stigma of belonging to upper class interiors.
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