Object Type
In the 18th century wallpapers were often fixed to the wall with nails or tacks, rather than pasted up. Printed borders were used to conceal the heads of the tacks and to give a neat and finished appearance to the papered wall. The fashion for using borders continued even when methods of hanging wallpapers changed and borders were no longer strictly necessary. By the early 19th century borders were available in elaborate designs to use as a frieze decoration around the upper part of the room.
Design & Designing
This wallpaper border is designed to look like a plaster frieze or cornice, especially when viewed from a distance. The motifs of the swan, acanthus leaves and flower heads are all derived from classical architecture.
People
This wallpaper comes from the stock of Messrs Cowtan & Sons Ltd, an important interior decorating company based in Oxford Street, London, from the 1820s to the 1930s. They succeeded two other well-known wallpaper suppliers, J. Duppa and J.G. Crace. Cowtan supplied wallpapers to customers all over the country.
Physical description
Wallpaper border with a trompe-l'oeil design imitating moulding decorations of swans, stylised foliage and festoon of flowers, in white on blue ground; Colour woodblock print, on paper.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (printed)
Date
ca. 1830 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (maker)
Cowtan & Son (supplier)
Materials and Techniques
Colour woodblock print, on paper
Dimensions
Height: 23 cm paper, Width: 52 cm paper
Object history note
Given by Mr A. L. Cowtan in memory of his father, Arthur Barnard Cowtan, OBE.
Descriptive line
Wallpaper border with a trompe-l'oeil design imitating moulding decorations of swans, stylised foliage and festoon of flowers, in white on blue ground; Colour woodblock print, on paper; From the stock of Cowtan & Sons; England; ca.1830.
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 first entry is as follows:
'197
Twenty-four borders with classical mouldings, ribbons, fruit, flowers etc;
E 71-74 stamped on the backs First Account Taken
Circa 1830-40
Colour prints from wood blocks, flock etc
Various sizes
PROVENANCE The stock of Cowtan & Sons Ltd, successors of J. Duppa, J. G. Crace etc
Given by Mr A. L. Cowtan in memory of his father, Arthur Barnard Cowtan, OBE
E.54-61-1939 neg GJ.9266; E66-90-1939; E.66, 67 neg GJ.9267'
The full text of the second entry is as follows:
'691
Fifty-five specimens from the stock of Cowtan & Sons Ltd; E.71, 74, 88 stamped on the back with Excise duty stamp First Account Taken
Circa 1800-90
Colour prints from wood blocks, flock, etc
Various sizes
Given by Mr A. C. Cowtan in memory of his father, Arthur Barnard Cowtan, OBE
E.43-97-1939
Nineteen borders from the first quarter of the 19th century (E.43-61); 4 borders, circa 1820 (E.62-65); 14 borders, circa 1830 (E.66-79); 10 borders, circa 1840 (E.80-89); 1 border, circa 1850 (E.90); 2 wallpapers, circa 1850 (E.91, 92); 5 wallpapers in the Japanese style, circa 1880 (E.93-97).
Cowtan & Sons were the successors of J. Duppa, J. G. Crace etc.'
Saunders, Gill. Wallpaper in Interior Decoration. V&A Publications. London. 2002. pp. 38. pl 30.
Labels and date
British Galleries:
Wallpapers with Classical motifs were a fashionable feature in Regency interiors and deep borders became particularly popular. Wallpapers at this time were printed with wooden blocks. As each colour was added, the effect of three-dimensional modelling was enhanced, giving them the appearance of friezes made of moulded plasterwork. [27/03/2003]
Production Note
Provenance: The stock of Cowtan & Sons Ltd, successors of J. Duppa, J. G. Crace etc.
Materials
Paper
Techniques
Colour woodblock print
Subjects depicted
Leaves (plant materials); Swans; Festoon; Trompe-l'oeil
Categories
Prints; Wall coverings
Collection code
PDP
