L’ART DU TREILLAGE (Trellis)

The first traces of the art of trellis date back to antiquity and the Roman Empire. Very fashionable in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Dézallier Argenville secretary to the King, wrote La théorie et la pratique du jardinage in 1709 and called them “beautiful when they are placed in enhancing the natural beauty of the gardens.”

The word “treillage” is said to have been derived from the Latin trichila and countryside gardeners who took to creating simple structures called treille or tendril of a vine to support their climbing plants. Treillage can take the form of trellised walls or enclosures, arbours, gazebos, pavilions, colonades or free-standing structures such as planters, obelisks and other individually designed features.

Treillage reached new heights of popularity when King Louis XIV had the world famous French garden at Versailles constructed. Louis XIV hired landscape architect André le Nôtre  and Jules Hardouin-Mansard first architect of the Sun King.

Trianon treillage pavilion.

They brought great improvements in the design of these architectural forms that are now a major component of parks, gardens and private homes in France.

Le theatre de eau at Versailles.

Le Nôtre and other landscape architects like him, relied heavily on forced perspective to bring a sense of grandeur to the garden.

At the turn of the century treillage was first introduced to America by decorator Elsie de Wolfe in her Trellis Room at the Colony Club, on Madison Avenue in New York where it became a status symbol in homes with conservatories and solaria. Inspiration came from her ‘Villa Trianon’ at Versailles her home outside of Paris. The iconic trellised Garden Pavilion (below) inspired by 18th century French aesthetics is considered today as one of the turning points in American interior design.

Elise de Wolfe’s Garden Pavilion at the Colony Club.

Triellage at Elisie de Wolfe garden, Villa Trianon.

While it could take years for hedges and topiaries to grow to full maturity, treillage brings instant architecture, impressive scale and elegant formality to a newly built landscape.

Modern use of treillage for privacy

Treillage structures also give a sophistication and beauty to entrance areas, terraces and courtyards.

Courtyard of the Hotel de Varenne, Paris.

A gravel-lined formal garden is contained through the use of clipped boxwood and treillage structures.

Related articles

• Restoring the gardens of Versailles (mycityisagarden.com)