Not far from the lovely city of Avignon is the small village of Rousillon, the centre of the provencal ochres. In ancient times the sea once covered this region, as the sea dried over millions of years, rain slowly transformed the limestones into sand rich in colourful ochres.

The early cave dwellers used it to paint the early human art found in the caves of the surrounding region. There is something in the warmth of ochre and all its shades that appeals immediately to us all. The ochre colours recall the safety and comfort of a fire, the beauty of a sunset, the glow of a flame or the light inside a home. So, it is little wonder, that ochre was one of the first colours used in wall decor by the Romans.

The houses in Roussillon are all painted in shades of colours that come from the surrounding ochres that are found and mixed with lime. They are washed and with time age beautifully, thanks to the sun and rain, blending and contrasting with the surroundings.

Many of the fabrics and pottery from the South of France reflect these warm colours. In the nineteenth century, travellers brought back from India the lovely printing blocks with decorative motifs that were repeated all over the cloth. Combined with the rich colours of Provence, the “Provencal Indienne” were born, Indian inspired French provincial fabrics. Mostly used to  dress dining tables and curtains, these colourful fabrics are making a comeback.

And, as I am writing this, we are busy sewing these fabrics into table cloths for our new shop in Double Bay, Sydney. We will be opening up in a few days, so pay us a visit and maybe think about brightening up your Christmas table this year with some warm provincial colours.