Textile Identification Help
- Thread starter Mentally Flossed
- Start date
Circa Vintage Clothing
Alumni
Toile is a type of linen or cotton fabric, and also the name given to "mock up" garments, to test the pattern prior to making up with the proper material. What you have here is called "toile de jouy" which is a particular style of printed fabric that was popular in the 18th century and is now used for lots of things, especially soft furnishings and interiors like wallpaper and cushions.
Due to the popularity of the design it can be hard to date, so it will help if you're able to identify the fabric composition: pure cotton (which is likely) or linen, or polyester-cotton. It's not a great help, but if it is a synthetic mix, that points to a more modern dating.
I don't recognise the design but there are many toile de jouy prints - the V&A produce an excellent book, which may be useful if you can locate a copy.
If I were dating your piece, I would look to all the components, the filling (it looks like a bed covering?) and the construction. It would also be helpful if you could work out the fabric width, as older fabrics are narrower.
Due to the popularity of the design it can be hard to date, so it will help if you're able to identify the fabric composition: pure cotton (which is likely) or linen, or polyester-cotton. It's not a great help, but if it is a synthetic mix, that points to a more modern dating.
I don't recognise the design but there are many toile de jouy prints - the V&A produce an excellent book, which may be useful if you can locate a copy.
If I were dating your piece, I would look to all the components, the filling (it looks like a bed covering?) and the construction. It would also be helpful if you could work out the fabric width, as older fabrics are narrower.
The scene you've shown in close up looks like The Fox and The Stork from Aesop's fables. Perhaps there are other stories too, or perhaps its all about The Fox and the Stork - we'd need to see more close ups of the individual scenes.
http://www.read.gov/aesop/016.html
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
That is a lovely fabric. Are you trying to find the maker so that you can purchase more of this same fabric? It looks to be a nice quality upholstery fabric, with a co-ordinating fabric as the ruffle trim. There are many makers of this type of fabric, both European makers, American made makers, and European textile firms with American manufacturing plants. In general it is difficult to recognize a maker merely by looking at a pattern. To me it looks fairly contemporary, definitely not antique, and perhaps less than 20 years old. Many patterns are revived by a textile maker over the years, so your pattern for example could have been originally made up by the maker in the 1960s and be a recent revival in contemporary/popular colors.
It looks to be a screen printed or roller printed fabric, most likely is a cotton or cotton blend. Can you open a seam and see if there is anything printed on a selvage?
Since the fox and stork have been mentioned, you can try a Google or Ebay search with those terms.
It looks to be a screen printed or roller printed fabric, most likely is a cotton or cotton blend. Can you open a seam and see if there is anything printed on a selvage?
Since the fox and stork have been mentioned, you can try a Google or Ebay search with those terms.
I am an interior designer. I am familiar with various fabric houses that did and/or still do carry this type of fabric. I tried an extensive search of my first "guess" which was Brunschwig & Fils but that did not yield any results. Other possibilities are Scalamandre; Cowtan and Tout, Lee Jofa, Duralee and many, many more. Pierre Deux is no longer independent, and is now part of the Kravet line in the US. Pierre Deux had fabrics similar to this. I think it is going to be difficult to identify the maker unless as has been suggested, you can find some information on the selvedge - but I doubt that you want to pick apart the throw to do that!
Most upholstery and multi-purpose fabric has been 54" wide or wider since at least the 1960's. I don't think it's contemporary but it could be because many of these traditional fabric houses frequently reintroduce classic patterns - or keep them in their lines. I asked if it is a print or woven because in the second picture it looks like it could be a woven fabric rather than a print. In any case it is likely to be 100% cotton. The pink and green checked fabric looks like it is a woven - and also looks classic as does the cording so it is really hard to date.
Most upholstery and multi-purpose fabric has been 54" wide or wider since at least the 1960's. I don't think it's contemporary but it could be because many of these traditional fabric houses frequently reintroduce classic patterns - or keep them in their lines. I asked if it is a print or woven because in the second picture it looks like it could be a woven fabric rather than a print. In any case it is likely to be 100% cotton. The pink and green checked fabric looks like it is a woven - and also looks classic as does the cording so it is really hard to date.
Mentally Flossed
Registered Guest
Thank you all for your replies! I purchased this set at an estate sale. This is actually a nursery bedding set. I have a bumper guard and a bedcover / throw blanket. I tried searching for the toile print because I find it absolutely stunning, but have not had any luck. I have found several toile prints with Aesop's Fable themes, but not this exact pattern. I was thinking that maybe this was home made and possibly an older fabric might have been used with a newer one. I honestly have no idea and am definitely not an expert. You all have been so much help, thank you! I purchased the Toiles de Jouy book and even though it did not have this pattern in it, the book itself is beautiful. Both fabrics appear to be woven. Here are a few additional pictures.
Attachments
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
That is a great set. If you can show us the reverse of the fabric, we can determine if the Fables pattern is woven or printed. The fabric itself is woven, but both Linn and I were referring to the pattern of the fabric.
It still looks very contemporary to me. Due to factors stated above, with fabrics/patterns being revived, we may have to rely on other clues such as the color mix. That color combination was very popular for decorating around 15 - 20 years ago. Now that we see the whole set with the added photos, the color mix is more clear. Due to the fact that many of the older fabrics have been revived/re-issued over the past 20 years due to the popularity of "antique" decorating styles, and often the only thing changed from the original issue is the color. Upscale textile makers (such as those Linn mentioned) would tend to use the original fibers and stay away from synthetics, although lower end manufacturers will often copy a pattern and use a synthetic mix such as cotton/poly.
Whatever the maker, it is a lovely set.
It still looks very contemporary to me. Due to factors stated above, with fabrics/patterns being revived, we may have to rely on other clues such as the color mix. That color combination was very popular for decorating around 15 - 20 years ago. Now that we see the whole set with the added photos, the color mix is more clear. Due to the fact that many of the older fabrics have been revived/re-issued over the past 20 years due to the popularity of "antique" decorating styles, and often the only thing changed from the original issue is the color. Upscale textile makers (such as those Linn mentioned) would tend to use the original fibers and stay away from synthetics, although lower end manufacturers will often copy a pattern and use a synthetic mix such as cotton/poly.
Whatever the maker, it is a lovely set.