Wallpaper
ca. 1755-1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. Wallpaper designs were usually closely related to the styles of contemporary architecture and other furnishings. This wallpaper was made in the 1750s, and has a pattern of flowers around a framework of scrollwork motifs and vases - typical features of the Rococo style at this date.
Materials & Making
The pattern has been printed by hand, using wood blocks on high-quality paper made from cotton rags. Some of the colours were then painted on, using stencils. This is why some of the colours do not register exactly within the outlines of the design. There is a section of a border paper attached at the lower edge. This was made to match the design of the wallpaper. At this date borders were commonly used to give a neat finish to the rough edges of the handmade paper sheets, or to hide the tacks if the paper had been nailed to wooden battens on the wall.
Design & Designing
Since wallpaper was first invented it has usually been designed to imitate some other kind of wallcovering. Printed paper was used as a cheaper substitute for materials such as tapestry velvet or silk. The pattern of this paper was designed to look like a silk damask fabric of around the same date.
In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. Wallpaper designs were usually closely related to the styles of contemporary architecture and other furnishings. This wallpaper was made in the 1750s, and has a pattern of flowers around a framework of scrollwork motifs and vases - typical features of the Rococo style at this date.
Materials & Making
The pattern has been printed by hand, using wood blocks on high-quality paper made from cotton rags. Some of the colours were then painted on, using stencils. This is why some of the colours do not register exactly within the outlines of the design. There is a section of a border paper attached at the lower edge. This was made to match the design of the wallpaper. At this date borders were commonly used to give a neat finish to the rough edges of the handmade paper sheets, or to hide the tacks if the paper had been nailed to wooden battens on the wall.
Design & Designing
Since wallpaper was first invented it has usually been designed to imitate some other kind of wallcovering. Printed paper was used as a cheaper substitute for materials such as tapestry velvet or silk. The pattern of this paper was designed to look like a silk damask fabric of around the same date.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Materials and techniques | Colour print from wood blocks and stencilling, on paper |
| Brief description | Portion of wallpaper with matching border, a floral pattern in the rococo style; Colour print from wood blocks and stencilling, on paper; From a house in the High Street, Brentford, Middlesex; English; ca. 1755-1760. |
| Physical description | Portion of wallpaper with matching border, a floral pattern in the rococo style; Colour print from wood blocks and stencilling, on paper. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Stamped on the back with the Georgian Excise duty stamp |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The floral elements here are supported by a loose framework of C-shaped Rococo scrolls. These 'C scrolls' were an essential component of the Rococo style. Designers used serpentine motifs, often combining them to increase the asymmetry of their designs. The pattern here imitates a silk damask dress fabric.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by John B. Fowler |
| Object history | Given by Mr John B. Fowler. From a house in the High Street, Brentford, Middlesex. |
| Historical context | This paper was designed to imitate the look of contemporary silk damask fabrics. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. Wallpaper designs were usually closely related to the styles of contemporary architecture and other furnishings. This wallpaper was made in the 1750s, and has a pattern of flowers around a framework of scrollwork motifs and vases - typical features of the Rococo style at this date. Materials & Making The pattern has been printed by hand, using wood blocks on high-quality paper made from cotton rags. Some of the colours were then painted on, using stencils. This is why some of the colours do not register exactly within the outlines of the design. There is a section of a border paper attached at the lower edge. This was made to match the design of the wallpaper. At this date borders were commonly used to give a neat finish to the rough edges of the handmade paper sheets, or to hide the tacks if the paper had been nailed to wooden battens on the wall. Design & Designing Since wallpaper was first invented it has usually been designed to imitate some other kind of wallcovering. Printed paper was used as a cheaper substitute for materials such as tapestry velvet or silk. The pattern of this paper was designed to look like a silk damask fabric of around the same date. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.2296&A-1966 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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