Our House
The Specialists of Toile de Jouy
Our House keeps in perpetuity some of the fabrics made successful by the Oberkampf house in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
In parallel with this heritage and to accompany these more contemporary decorations, we propose a choice of coordinated fabrics.
We are going even further by developing a collection of motifs clearly enshrined in the trends of today as well as a palette of decorative objects tailored to the theme of the Toile de Jouy fabric.
The fabrics that we use today are faithful to the old document illustrations. We have sought clarification and authentication from the heritage collections of numerous museums. Once photographed, each motif has been scanned and treated numerically in order to restore the original layout and return all of the intricate detail. These documents then allowed us to make engravings in a copper framework, the matrix of which was then applied to a cotton canvas to make an identical impression of those made in the glory days of Jouy-en-Josas.
Our "savoir-faire"
Our fabrics, faithful reproductions of old documents, are printed in a flat framework in a reproduction of the original process, a method commonly used for high quality printing in small quantities.
The support (the cotton fabric) has been woven in the Vosges, a highly traditional place in the history of the textile industry, and the printing is carried out usually in Marseille (another important historical site), occasionally printing is carried out in Italy.
The printing is carried out using a single technique (called "the framework") but two variants: either classic — the framework applies the motif to the fabric scrolling under it on a table —, or "à la lyonnaise" — in which the framework is moved mechanically over the length of the fabric on a table. The carefully engraved copper matrix allows for an impression of great precision and they are generally monochrome. The repeated application gives the drawing its depth and relief to make the final rendering a genuine, high quality reproduction.
Our presence in Jouy-en-Josas
Our presence in Jouy-en-Josas
The manufacturer of Jouy-en-Josas closed its doors in 1843. However, given our location in Jouy and our specific knowledge and know-how, we perpetuate the tradition in the publishing and selling of some of the historical fabrics, championing the glory and reputation of the original establishment.
Establishing Oberkampf in Jouy-en-Josas
A young, 21 year old Bavarian, Christophe-Phillipe Oberkampf arrived in Paris in 1759 and was employed in an arsenal workshop that printed "the reserve". Seeking to create his own business and improve the technical processes of the art, he began looking for a place to settle and establish his business. The waters of the Bievre were then known for their unique chemical properties and he followed its course until close to its source in Jouy-en-Josas. In the first campaign, the fabrics produced by the manufacturer were laid out in one of the vast surrounding meadows to dry and bleach in the sun. The site also had the advantage of being close to Versailles and its court, in other words: the target audience. Oberkampf settled in Jouy-en-Josas in 1759 and began making fabrics in May 1760, experiencing instant success.
Our position in Jouy today
The original manufacturer in Jouy-en-Josas closed its doors in 1843. Some buildings from that time still remain today: the first house (known as the stone bridge) that Oberkampf installed in the village and a part of his subsequent house (that houses the current Mayor), and the Montcel field (now a place used for seminars, festivals and various other events) that he had acquired for his family.
