The French writer and intellectual Louise de Vilmorin, a friend and client of Madeleine and Daniel Porthault, inspired the brand's iconic Clovers (Trèfles) design.

 Translation: All my admiration and loyal friendship to Monsieur and Madame Porthault

Pictured: Porthault's green Trèfles, paired with pink Tulipe Perroquet.

The clover motif was taken with Louise de Vilmorin's permission from her signature on her letters to her brothers during WWII. Louise would sign her name with a large "L" embellished with a 4-leaf clover ~ each leaf representing one of her four brothers away from home. All boys survived the conflict, and they were reunited with their sister in Paris after the war.

For the house of D. Porthault, the clover design has always symbolized faith, hope and the blessing of good fortune.

Louise de Vilmorin was also a legendary tastemaker and hostess and is shown above in her Salon Bleu, a room The New York Times called "one of the high-water marks of 20th century decoration." Loving blue, Mme Vilmorin requested that Porthault print the clover design in blue as well as green for her bed and table linens. Shown below is a 21st century room with blue Trèfles, photographed by Erik Kvalsvik for D. Porthault: The Art of Luxury Linens.

In appreciation of their friendship, collaboration and mutual love of linens, Louise de Vilmorin wrote the following to Madeleine and Daniel Porthault ~



 We treasure this letter in our archives. And today, as we celebrate our 100th Anniversary, we are proud to continue printing Les Trèfles, inspired by the hopes and good fortune it continues to reflect.