Welcome to your ultimate buying guide for French tablecloths from Provence. Tuula. I have had mine for years and it still looks like the day I bought it. Thanks Krista Sue really knows her stuff! The tablecloths in our online shop are produced by a family owned business in Nice, Provence. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2008 - 2022 French Affair . This design is more subdued and easy to mix and match with other designs. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Required fields are marked *. # Dismiss. ABN: 60 603 058 001, French tablecloths of Provence buying guide. Heres what you need to know to choose your perfect French tablecloth. Easy to care for and will last for years. Now, as then, its easy to clean, hard wearing and downright gorgeous. Sign up for 10% discount on your first order, 150cm square suits a 4 seater square table, 180cm round suits a 4 to 6 seater round table, 150 x 120 cm suits a small 4 to 6 seater table. So interesting!! In 1686 the Royalty stopped the importation of the Indian fabric but, because Provence was not on royal land, production continued here and grew over the next two hundred years, with factories in Orange, Avignon, Tarascon and Aix. In the 17th century the port of Marseille was a hub for all sorts of exotic imports including vivid textiles from India. As a general guide, this is the tablecloth size you need for each table. Everything is 100% made in France and the online shop ships globally. Watch out for the words French inspired or the claim that the product is simply imported. Its such a cheery thing in yellows and blues. Ideal for everyday use. As a result, the design is particularly well balanced and helps to create a lovely frame for the table. Perfect if your crockery or table decoration is more elaborate. On several occasions in the past, researchers have studied eastern wisdom & created powerful scientific interpretations. Thanks for the good information. These fabrics, which were originally used as womens shawls, are now mostly used for interior decoration, and are brilliantly multi-coloured prints in kaleidoscopic floral and geometric patterns. This design also works well if you want to use the tablecloth on tables of different sizes. These are a fabulous invention the cotton fabric is treated with a Teflon or acrylic coating which makes the tablecloth stain repellent. **********************************************. Azure blue skies, the deep purple of lavender fields, olive orchards, bright yellow sunflowers and lemons. Not what you were hoping for. Now for the uninitiated a word about coated tablecloths. Ruby red poppy fields, the turquoise Mediterranean and wine dark grapes in the vineyards. Some ironing is required. Theyre just as practical as they were when people fell in love with the cloth in the 1600s. The first provenal fabric brand to be widely known was Souleiado, created in 1939, and which has stores all across France and around the world, but is very pricey. Place the tablecloth on a smaller table and you can easily fold the cloth under at the end without affecting the overall design. French Shoppings online shop has a fabulous selection of traditional, authentic Provencal tablecloths. The effect is very striking and can transform a room, instantly bringing the warm colours of Provence into the home. There are a number of companies based in Provence that continue the tradition of fabric making and produce good quality provenal table linen tablecloths, cotton placemats and bread baskets. The best shop by far that Ive come across in Provence for tablecloths is La Victoire in Aix en Provence. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The effect is very striking and can transform a kitchen, instantly bringing the warm colours of Provence into the home. Or it can be olives, lemons or a simple geometric design. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Almost certainly it has been imported from China! (LogOut/ When people say French tablecloths, they often mean provenal tablecloths, and so I thought Id pull together a bit of background on how Provence became known for its tablecloths, and the different styles of tablecloths that are available. Easy care. A huge fashion hit, everyone wanted the brightly coloured cloth. But how do you plan to do it? The great thing about this coating is that although there is a light sheen to the tablecloth, because the tablecloth itself is made of cotton (and not plastic or oilcloth) the tablecloth drapes properly at the corners and it doesnt stick out at awkward angles. Its with great pleasure that I introduce this weeks guest post by Sue Aitken. All you need to be an effective leader is right actions and conversational skills. Although many people used the material to create clothes, in Provence the cloth was popular for tablecloths too as it was easy to wash and maintain. A striped effect. They really are fabulous, arent they. It says Les Olives in the corner so I just googled it and found your site. Couldnt live without it! Consequently, it doesnt stick out at awkward angles. Discover the fascinating historyof French tablecloths. Find out more and find a gorgeous French tablecloth to love at: www.frenchshopping.co.uk, Everything You want to know about france and more, The Good Life France is the leading independent website about all things French from travel to culture, gastronomy to property and practical guides & more, By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies, Red tape blue shutters | cest la vie in France, Great things are done by a series of small things brought together, How to make a Christmas bouquet chateau style, How to create French home style anywhere, How to host a dinner party in true French style. At first, the range can seem overwhelming. All rights reserved. And its been that way ever since. First, a bit of historyProvenal fabrics or indiennes were first produced throughout France during the seventeenth century using the same methods and designs of imported fabrics from India. At The Institute for Generative Leadership, we: Copyright 2020 Institute For Generative Leadership. Allover and linear tablecloths usually come in coated and uncoated versions. Just use a wet sponge or cloth to clean and wipe off the spills. Perhaps its the calisson, a sweet treat from Provence. Place the tablecloth on a smaller table and you can easily fold the cloth under at the end without affecting the overall design. They decorate cafs and homes everywhere in France. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Different patterns in contrasting colours run side by side along the length of the tablecloth. They make for a fabulous souvenir, bringing a bit of that famous sunshine and je ne sais quoi into your home. Opening their doors in 1933, for the last three generations, the company has been making authentic quality Provenal tablecloths and fabrics to delight locals and tourists alike. Or it can be olives, lemons or a simple geometric design. To my mind, the great thing about provenal tablecloths is that they brighten up any room and keep you cheerful, long after youve returned home from your holiday in Provence. (LogOut/ Sue was kind enough to participate in the My Provenceseries and also gave us many a fabulous tip on how to live la belle vie in the picturesque village ofSanary-sur-Mer. A small pattern repeated across the tablecloth. A more elaborate pattern created exactly for that size of tablecloth. At the court of Louis XIV, Les Indiennes as the material was known, was all the rage. We hope our Buying Guide for French Tablecloths was helpful. The tablecloth can be machine washed in cold or warm water without loosing the coating. You start to live and lead your life in the true sense. Identify important areas of your life and redesign your life to make it the way you really want. But if youre not going to be in Provence soon, and you want to inject some southern French sunshine into your decor, we have a good range of provenal tablecloths on the website round and rectangular, coated or uncoated take your pick. Remember, you usually et what you pay for. And, when the ban was lifted in 1793 it became a hit all over again. Make sure its the right size for your table as you cant fold it under without compromising the design. The most expensive type of provenal tablecloth is bordered and actually my favourite, although these dont usually come in coated versions. Merci bien Sue! There tend to be three different types of provenal tablecloths. Water repellent tablecloths may wrinkle after washing like any garments. This makes this type of provenal tablecloth absolutely ideal for high traffic areas such as the kitchen. Between 15cm to 25cm is ideal. Machine washable in cold or warm water. . It can be confusing looking at all of the options available. Youll find them piled high at markets, luring you into specialist shops in the south of France. A brightly coloured French tablecloth brings a little bit of Provence into the room, wherever you are. You may find that although the designs look very French, theyre made in Asia with lower quality fabric. Years ago I bought a gorgeous tablecloth at a thrift store. The south of France is defined by its colour. These lovely French tablecloths also make great gifts for friends and family especially at Christmas! Today she shares with us one of her many passions the history behind those beautiful provenal fabrics and tablecloths we all covetand sometimes try to stuff in our suitcases in hopes of bringing a bit of Provence back home (you know who you are). At family run online business French Shopping youll discover their great range of Provencal tablecloths. These tablecloths are amazing. This water-repellent cotton can be washed in the washing machine although it doesnt need washing nearly as often as a standard cotton tablecloth. I have one provenal tablecloth and I LOVE it. The table linen available on the Boutique Provenale website is from two main suppliers: Les Indiennes de Nmes and Ensoleillade both companies are based in Provence and create attractive provenal tablecloths in authentic patterns. The great thing about this coating is that the tablecloth remains quite flexible. The overall effect is slightly striped. No promo code needed. Your email address will not be published. The central section of the tablecloth has an allover pattern, but a contrasting border is sewn around the outer section of the tablecloth, creating a very attractive effect around the edge. The perfect tablecloth for you depends on the length you like your cloth to hang over on each side. A heartfelt thank you to Sue (who is my go-to gal for all things pretty and bright in the world of provenal decoration) for this very informative post! You can have them delivered at home wherever you are. Firstly, what the French call allover which involves a small pattern repeated across the tablecloth. Just hang them to dry. Linear or framed? Different patterns in contrasting colours are seen side by side along the length of the tablecloth. In fact it was so popular that for a while it was banned in France as traditional cloth manufacturers complained bitterly. This can be the tiny cigale or cicada that is traditionally used decoratively on pottery and glassware in Provence. Thanks for your kind comment and so happy to be of help with your tableclothsounds like a real find! At IGL-India, we see that when you live in the way it is distinguished above, you are also leading, and the distinction between living and leading collapses. Do not dry clean. Change). # Check out with Backpocket and save 20%. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It includes the ever popular Lavender Collection, reminiscent of the wonderful fields of scented purple flowers and the Cicadas Collection in uplifting blues and yellows. Just wipe down with a wet cloth. Originally the dyes were obtained from natural materials and each colour in a design was applied with separate woodblock impressions. Theres also the Provence, Rose Garland, Olives, Lemon and Alpine Collection (perfect for Christmas tables). Glad you found this overview useful. It hasnt faded and because its the coated style, it hasnt stained either. They come in a range of sizes and styles, round, oblong and square, plus napkins to match. With patterns drawn from the lush natural environment; bouquets of lavender, twigs of olives and juicy citrus set against a colourful background, they add a burst of happiness to your table. Learn what it takes to be a breakthrough leader and how to generate extraordinary results in less than a year. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Its great to have so much variety, but it can certainly be a little overwhelming at first! We have a number of different styles of bordered provenal tablecloths on the website, but I think my favourites are those from Les Indiennes de Nmes gloriously colourful, very high quality and using authentic patterns recreated from the original Indiennes of the seventeenth century. Its easy to fall in love with these beautiful table cloths from the south of France. What would you choose? Your email address will not be published. But the French appetite for the bright textiles never left. Its like magic the spillage simply wipes off. Spread a ray of southern France sunshine over your table and enjoy a little art de vivre! What a fabulous invention! So if youre shopping for table linen at a market, and the prices seem really cheap, its more than likely that the fabric is a cheap import. Especially the aristocracy. Ideal for high traffic areas such as the kitchen. They have a great range of designs from several different companies, and you can also buy the fabric by the metre. However, rarely, has anyone looked at science & Eastern Wisdom, and brought forth leadership distinctions & practices. Choose your perfect tablecloth from our extensive range of French tablecloths. An outer border frames the table with a design in the centre. Although theres a light sheen, because the tablecloth is made of cotton (and not plastic or oilcloth) the tablecloth drapes nicely at the corners. ***********************************************************************************. Cotton or coated cotton? This design is great if you want to use the tablecloth on tables of different sizes. What does it all mean? Want to know more? The cotton fabric is treated with an acrylic coating which makes the tablecloth stain repellent. So pleased you love your French tablecloth. But beware of imitations there are products out there that are made elsewhere in France, and even in China! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your personal data will only be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. Learn how your comment data is processed. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), A Beginners Guide to ProvenalTablecloths, Lavender Shopping in Le Castellet Village, 5 Fantastic Christmas Markets in Provence. Quality natural fabric. (LogOut/ Thanks for the helpful information. Now you dont have to go all the way to the south of France to get your fix. Science, Eastern Wisdom And Generative Leadership, Achieving extra-ordinary results through communication, Creating Effective & Sustainable Leadership, Leadership Conversations For Possibilities, Managing Capacity, Managing Promises and Achieving Results, Creating a powerful growth strategy and making it work, Come with over two decades of business and leadership. This can be the omnipresent cigale or cicada that is traditionally used decoratively on pottery and glassware in Provence. Its like magic any spills simply bead on the cloth ready to be wiped off. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. : Some companies copy the traditional Provencale designs and print them onto lower quality fabrics in Asian factories. The second style of provenal tablecloth is a linear pattern. Tumble dried on low temperature setting or you can hang dry for best results. Want to succeed? If youre shopping for authentic French table linen, beware if the prices seem really cheap. If you really must get every last wrinkle out, the tablecloths may be ironed on reverse side at low temperature. Other well known brands include Les Olivades and Valdrme whose prices are almost as high as Souleiado. And then allow your idea of the perfect overhang length on each side. French Affair are French tablecloth specialists and we would love to help you make the right decision. Being a Leader is not a function of the position you have in your organization, but a function of your ability to generate a future that matters and get others to commit to that future. I just found it while cleaning out a closet. Everywhere you go, the colours of Provence and southern France are captured in a keepsake the famous gaily coloured, sun-drenched tablecloths. Et voila .. the ideal tablecloth size. So, simply measure your table. Authentic or copied?