Rating and value of paintings, drawings and tapestries by Louis Toffoli

A remarkable but forgotten painter, Louis Toffoli was an artist of many talents. He is famous for his lithographs and drawings. He also created cartoons for the Aubusson tapestry in spite of himself, and began his career with fashion designs in the Faubourg Saint Honoré. Here's a look back at this extraordinary artist and past auctions of his work.

If you own a work of art by or based on the work of artist Louis Toffili and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can advise you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work of art, we will guide you towards the best possible means of obtaining the best possible price.

Artist's rating and value 

A recognized painter of his time, Louis Toffoli is a fairly valued artist on the art market. Prized by collectors, his value is stable. Naturally, his paintings are his most sought-after works, although many lithographs can be found on the auction market. A signed work by Louis Toffoli can fetch tens of thousands of euros at auction, as demonstrated by his painting Jonques, le soir, which sold for €34,000 in Cannes in 2011.

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

The life of Louis Toffoli 

Louis Toffoli (1907 - 1999) was born in Trieste, on the Austrian coast, to an Italian father and a Slovenian mother. When the Great War broke out, he and his family were forced to move to Italy. There, he studied all the literature at hand, then returned to Trieste to enter the naval academy.

He didn't stay long, changing jobs one after the other. At the same time, he took courses at the local Academy of Fine Arts. In 1928, he presented two paintings in the constructivist style, approaching futurism.

The Blackshirts (a Fascist propaganda group working on behalf of Mussolini) were interested in his work and wanted him as a propaganda artist.

Toffoli refused and left Italy without the right to do so, on a trip to France. He settled in Paris, without papers and with little money.

A couturier, Denis Kalman, spotted him and hired him. He became an esteemed model-maker, and thanks to this talent obtained proper French papers. He continued this activity, but on his own, in the Paris suburbs, for various fashion houses. At the same time, he produced posters. In 1935, he won first prize in a competition organized by the Ministry of Colonies. The League of Nations also awarded him second prize for another work. He also exhibited at the two most popular salons: the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Artistes Indépendants.

During the Occupation, he joined the Resistance as a liaison officer in Touraine. He obtained French nationality in 1947, and changed his name from Luigi to Louis, which would become the first name used to refer to the artist.

The artist's works and style 

Louis Toffoli explored several artistic genres and pictorial techniques. He produced many lithographs, as well as paintings, drawings (notably of fashion) and sometimes sculptures: he mastered bronze techniques, particularly chasing.

In 1976, the Aubusson factory produced the first tapestries whose cartoons would become the canvases themselves. Others have been produced since, and these pieces can be found on the auction market. 

His signature

Not all Louis Toffoli's works are signed. He signs "Toffoli".

Although there are variations, here is a first example of its signature:

Our team will be happy to help you identify your artwork.

Appraising your property

If you own a Louis Toffoli work, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your work.  

If you are considering selling your work, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each work.