I MENTIONED THAT I IHAD A GOOD SCOOP OF TOILE ON MY LAST VISIT TO FRANCE - MUCH WAS FAIRLY WORN, THOUGH NOT SHATTERED AS YET, AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY 4 OF THE PATTERNS, THE MONGOLFIER BALLOON, THE 4 CONTINENTS, THE DANCING LESSON AND THE SWING (ESCARPOLETTE) BUT I CANNOT FIND ANYTHING LIKE THE ENCLOSED IN MY REFERENCE BOOKS- LIKELY TO BE J OUY BECAUSE SOME OF THE BALLOON PRINT WAS ATTACHED TO THIS MAGNIFICENT BEDSPREAD, 7 x 7 FT SQUARE IN ALMOST PERFECT CONDITION. I HAVE SOLD IT TO A NEW CLIENT IN USA WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE - AND SO WOULD I. CAN YOU HELP IDENTIFY IT? I WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL FOR ANY CLUES. STRANGELY ENOUGH I HAVE A FOUR FOLD SCREEN IN THE SAME PATTERN, BUT MUCH SMALLER AND WITHOUT SOME OF THE TWIRLY BITS AND FLOWERS, SO IT WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY POPULAR. THE SCREEN WHICH IS COVERED BOTH SIDES APPEARS TO BE 19C. See later blog PINS AND NEEDLES SCREEN IN BACKGROUND
Hi Elizabeth, without more photos, it is quite hard! I don't have any pics of that exact design in my reference books, but by the look of it, I imagine it to be a Toile de Jouy as the design is particularly fine, or it could be toile de Nante, as artists seem to work for both companies around this period. I would guess without 'handling' the piece, if you know what I mean, that it would date somewhere around 1770-95. I am not sure of the design, perhaps the Toilette of Venus, or some such romantic subject, maybe an early print of Cupid and Psyche, but I would need to see detailed pics of the whole pattern repeat to attempt to interpret the story! Sorry if this sounds a bit 'wooly' and I hope it has helped a wee bit! All my best, and thanks for sharing pics of such an exciting toile! Lois xx
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