La Toile Cirée: A doctoral project investigating the versaAle and historically significant material known
as oilcloth, a coated fabric extensively used in Western European interior design and pracAcal
applicaAons from the 17th to 19th centuries. Oilcloth found a place in diverse sePngs, including wall
and floor coverings, furniture upholstery, and as protecAve linings for chests and carriages. The
research aims to bring fresh scholarly aRenAon to oilcloth’s aestheAc, funcAonal, and technical
dimensions, posiAoning it as an important forgoRen component of material culture and interior design
history.
Focusing on historical producAon methods, this project draws on primary sources and surviving objects
to reconstruct the complex processes behind oilcloth manufacturing. Through detailed analysis of
historical recipes, it incorporates technical art history to examine the materials, ingredients, and
arAsanal methods that enabled the creaAon of richly paRerned, durable oilcloth. This approach,
supported by a systemaAc database for tracking producAon details, enables a robust analysis of the
evoluAon of oilcloth producAon and the recovery of lost arAsanal knowledge.
The interdisciplinary nature of this research is crucial to its methodology, bringing together
perspecAves from art history, material science, and historical craUsmanship. By examining oilcloth as
both a funcAonal and decoraAve material, this project posiAons it within broader historical and
decoraAve trends.
UlAmately, this project contributes to interior design history by illuminaAng oilcloth’s role in 18thcentury
domesAc environments and its cultural relevance. The interdisciplinary framework allows for
a nuanced reconstrucAon of producAon techniques and aestheAc choices, providing insights into
historical methods and the materiality of interior spaces. Through a blend of technical art history and
art-historical analysis, this research deepens the understanding of how oilcloth shaped Western
European interiors and enriched material culture.