Object Type
In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. By the late 19th century wallpapers were widely used by all classes, in homes and also in public buildings.
Places
This wallpaper was designed especially for the Palace of Westminster. The pattern incorporates references to its purpose. The crowned portcullis is the symbol for the Palace, and the crowned flower is the Tudor rose, a Royal emblem. The letters 'V' and 'R' stand for Victoria Regina - Queen Victoria. The design was intended to symbolise the authority of Crown and Parliament.
Design & Designing
A.W.N. Pugin (1812-1852) was responsible for the design of almost all the furnishings of the Palace of Westminster, including more than a hundred wallpapers.Pugin was a leading design reformer. He held strong views on what was appropriate in the decoration of domestic furnishings. In particular he believed that flat surfaces such as walls should be decorated only with flat patterns, and not patterns that gave the illusion of depth and substance.
Physical description
Unused portion of a wallpaper, with a pattern of the Tudor rose and portcullis, and the initials VR; gold, brown and red on a dark-red ground; Colour woodblock print, on paper.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1848 (made)
Artist/maker
Pugin, Augustus Welby Northmore, born 1812 - died 1852 (designer)
Samuel Scott, born 1697 - died 1772 (manufacturer)
John G Crace & Son (supplier)
Materials and Techniques
Colour woodblock print, on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Coles 0147
Dimensions
Height: 63 cm unmounted, Width: 57 cm
Object history note
Given by Cole & Son (Wallpapers) Ltd.
Designed by A.W. N. Pugin (born in London, 1812, died in Ramsgate, Kent, 1852); manufactured in London by Samuel Scott, for the firm of J.G. Crace.
Designed for use in the Houses of Parliament.
Descriptive line
Unused portion of a wallpaper, with a pattern of the Tudor rose and portcullis, and the initials 'VR'; gold, brown and red on a dark-red ground; Colour woodblock print, on paper; Designed by A. W. N. Pugin for the Houses of Parliament; Produced by Samuel Scott for J. G. Crace; England; 1848.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Oman, Charles C., and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
The full text of the entry is as follows:
'1121
Unused portion of a wallpaper with a pattern of the Tudor rose and portcullis, and the initials VR, for the Houses of Parliament
Produced by Samuel Scott for J. G. Crace
Colour print from wood blocks
63 x 57 cm
E.150-1976 CT 8494
Pugin's body-colour design for this paper is D.719-1908.'
Saunders, Gill. Wallpaper in Interior Decoration. V&A Publications. London. 2002. pp. 105. pl 88.
Julius Bryant, ed. Art and Design for All. The Victoria and Albert Museum London: V&A Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 9781851776665.
Exhibition History
The Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design For All (Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest 14/06/2012-16/09/2012)
The Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design For All (Kunst und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn 18/11/2011-15/04/2012)
Labels and date
British Galleries:
This striking design is typical of A.W.N. Pugin's bold wallpaper patterns. The crowned portcullis is the symbol for the Palace of Westminster and the crowned flower is the Tudor rose. The letters 'V' and 'R' stand for Victoria Regina - Queen Victoria. [27/03/2003]
Production Note
Designed for use in the Houses of Parliament.
Materials
Paper
Techniques
Colour woodblock print
Subjects depicted
Tudor roses; Portcullises
Categories
Prints; Wall coverings
Collection code
PDP
