Wallpaper
- Place of origin:
England, Great Britain (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Colour print from wood blocks and stencilling, on paper
- Credit Line:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case MB2B, shelf DR52, box DW6A
- Download image
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.
Physical description
Portion of wallpaper with matching border, a floral pattern in the rococo style; Colour print from wood blocks and stencilling, on paper.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
ca. 1755-1760 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Colour print from wood blocks and stencilling, on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Stamped on the back with the Georgian Excise duty stamp
Dimensions
Height: 70 cm paper, Width: 105 cm paper, Height: 72.1 cm mount, Width: 106 cm mount
Object history note
Given by Mr John B. Fowler.
From a house in the High Street, Brentford, Middlesex.
Historical context note
This paper was designed to imitate the look of contemporary silk damask fabrics.
Descriptive line
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.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Saunders, Gill. Wallpaper in Interior Decoration. V&A Publications. London. 2002. pp. 49.
Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1966 pub. HMSO 1967
Full text of entry is as follows:
ANONYMOUS: Wall-papers, English
...
Portion of wall-paper (consisting of 3 pieces joined), with a pattern of roses, carnations, dahlias and other flowers, some in vases, linked by a foliate rococo motif. Also a matching border. From a recently demolished house in the High Street, Brentford, Middlesex. English, mid-18th century.
Stamped on the back with the Excise duty stamp.
Colour print from wood blocks. Overall size (68.5 x 120 cm.); border (5.3 x 120 cm.) E.2296, 2296A-1966
Given by Mr. John B. Fowler
Labels and date
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]
Subjects depicted
Flowers
Categories
British Galleries; Wall coverings
Collection code
PDP
