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Wallpaper

1872 (produced)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a wallpaper for a frieze (a decorated band round the upper part of the wall). The pattern consists of dark squirrels and leaves on a paler background. It is similar to designs on medieval tiles where a dark motif or pattern contrasts with a light background. The architect William Burges designed it. He studied medieval designs and used them as inspiration. Metford Warner was director of Jeffrey & Co., who manufactured this piece. He encouraged artists and architects, including William Burges, to design wallpapers for his firm. Thanks to Warner's efforts, wallpapers appeared in the Fine Arts Exhibition at the Albert Hall, London, for the first time in 1873. This raised the standards of design in the wallpaper industry.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour machine print (or possibly print from woodblocks), on paper
Brief description
A narrow wallpaper frieze consisting of a pattern unit of a squirrel and leaves with a horizontal mirror repeat. The squirrel and leaves pattern unit is within a border of trefoils; Designed by William Burges; Colour machine print (or possibly print from woodblocks), on paper; Produced by Jeffrey & Co.; England; 1872.
Physical description
A narrow wallpaper frieze consisting of a pattern unit of a squirrel and leaves which has been turned through 180 degrees to give a horizontal mirror repeat. The squirrel and leaves pattern unit is within a border of trefoils. There are three repeats on the frieze; Colour machine print (or possibly print from woodblocks), on paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 37cm
  • Height: 14.5in
  • Width: 40cm
  • Width: 15.75in
Credit line
Given by Wallpaper Manufacturers Ltd.
Object history
Given by Wallpaper Manufacturers Ltd.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a wallpaper for a frieze (a decorated band round the upper part of the wall). The pattern consists of dark squirrels and leaves on a paler background. It is similar to designs on medieval tiles where a dark motif or pattern contrasts with a light background. The architect William Burges designed it. He studied medieval designs and used them as inspiration. Metford Warner was director of Jeffrey & Co., who manufactured this piece. He encouraged artists and architects, including William Burges, to design wallpapers for his firm. Thanks to Warner's efforts, wallpapers appeared in the Fine Arts Exhibition at the Albert Hall, London, for the first time in 1873. This raised the standards of design in the wallpaper industry.
Bibliographic references
  • Mulberg, Colin. A Teacher's Guide to Using the Print Room. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1995. 4 p.ill. (V&A Education series). ISBN 1851771557.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings Accessions 1934 London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1935
Collection
Accession number
E.1862-1934

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Record createdSeptember 30, 2003
Record URL
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