Jouets poster, as seen on Friends
This beautiful French advertising poster was created by the artist and lithographer Jules Chéret. It has gained worldwide notoriety as the poster hung on the wall in Monica’s apartment in the TV series Friends.
The French Poster in Friends
As a die-hard fan of the TV show “Friends”, I always loved the variety of poster art that was used in the show. Along with Monica’s purple walls, one of the most endearing props is the ‘Aux Buttes Chaumont’ poster, you can buy on this page. In the show it hung above the television in Monica and Rachel’s apartment.
In the show’s tenth season, Phoebe references the poster as the ‘French poster that nothing comes out of!’ I always thought it was a cool poster, and I’m sure any fan of the show would agree. This poster is ideal for giving as a gift to a Friends devotee.
What is Aux Buttes Chaumont?
Buttes Chaumont is a large park in Paris. It was opened in 1867 towards the end of Napolean III’s reign. Aux Buttes Chaumont was a large department store that opened in 1878. The now-defunct store was located at Boulevard de la Villette à l’Angledu Faubourg St. Martin close to the park. The poster was created by the French artist and lithographer Jules Chéret in 1885.
What does the French poster in friends say?
The stylish and chic vintage French poster has become extremely popular with fans of the hit comedy sitcom. The large heading at the top of the poster reads Aux Buttes Chaumont which in English proclaims ‘At Chaumont Hill’. Cheret’s famous poster advertises children’s toys with Chéret’s artwork portraying a very lucky and joyously happy child sitting on a rocking horse, surrounded by a variety of toys. The image is supported by the words ‘Jouets et Objets pour Etrennes’ which translates as Toys and gifts for the holidays (presumably Christmas).
The poster was obviously aimed at the Parisienne gentry as rocking horses in the early 1900s would have been a very extravagant gift only affordable to the very wealthy. In addition to the horse, the child has received a drum, dolls, skittles and musical instruments. The poster is one of almost fifty posters made for the department store between 1878 and 1891.
Friends, The one with…
The Jules Cheret ‘Jouets poster’ is just one vintage poster used as props on the set of Friends. Joey and Chandler and Ross’s apartments and Rachel and Monica’s bedrooms are predominantly decorated with them. We’re not sure whether the posters were intended to reveal something about each of the characters but they do look great on their walls.
Amongst the other posters that feature in the show is another Jules Chéret related poster from the Belle Epoque era. This one hangs on the wall to the left of Monica’s apartment door and features a portrait of Maïna La Voyante, or Maïna the Clairvoyant, produced by the French illustrator Louis Galice.
In ‘The One With the Vows’, Season 7, Episode 21 Joey and Monica share a bedroom scene. On the wall behind them is another well-known poster. This one is the iconic Porto Ramos-Pinto poster made for the Ramos-Pinto Company. It features two lovers about to kiss, with cupid holding a glass of the famous Porto Ramos-Pinto port wine between them. It was created by René Vincent to advertise the famous port wine.
In Season 1, Episode 5, The One With the East German Laundry Detergent, there is a scene where Ross appears in Chandler and Joey’s apartment. A poster titled Les Mysteres de New York features on the wall to the right of Chandler’s bedroom. The poster features an image of a highwayman.
Another poster that appears in Chandler and Joey’s apartment can be seen in ‘The One Where Everybody Finds Out’, Series 5, Episode 14. In the background in the scene where Chandler and Phoebe try to outbrave each other is a classic English My Goodness, My Guinness advertising poster for the Irish beverage, Guinness. It features a zookeeper being chased by a lion.
There are more and we have quite a few of them for sale on this site.
Aux Buttes Chaumont poster
Jules Cheret may have created this poster but its use on the set of Monica’s apartment in Friends is what really made this Jouets poster famous.
Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears, or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.
The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and poster for just £22.