Les Couleurs de Provence - French Tablecloths and French Clothing

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This pattern is called “clos des oliviers” which means olive grove. The olive tree has been a part of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks used to smear olive oil on their bodies and hair as a matter of grooming and good health. Through the years, the olive branch has become a symbol of peace, wisdom, glory, fertility, power and pureness. A number of Greek and Roman writings refer to the olive and its beneficial role in their respective cultures. References to the olive are found in both the Bible and the Qur’an. It is estimated that the cultivation of the olive began more than 7,000 years ago. The Russians also participated in spreading the olive throughout Eurasia.

After the 16th century, olives were brought to the New World by the Europeans. Since then the olive has been cultivated in California, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. It is thought that there are approximately 800 million olive trees in the world, and most of these are found in Mediterranean countries.

This tablecloth has a 70 inch diameter and will fit a variety of round (and even square tables) with a diameter of less than 65 inches.