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Wallpaper

1850-1875 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
B. J. Allan & Son (manufacturer)
Place of origin
England (made)

It was common in the 18th and 19th centuries to use ceiling papers whch had been printed to imitate moulded plaster or papier mâché, both of which were more expensive methods of ceiling decoration. This particular example shows a rosette which would have been used for the centre of the ceiling. The manufacturer of this paper has not been postively identified, but the firm B. J. Allan & Son exhibited very similar pieces at the Paris International Exhibition of 1878.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Interiors
Wall Coverings
Object type
Wallpaper
Materials and techniques
Colour machine print, on paper
Paper
Colour Machine Print
Brief description
Ceiling paper with floral and imitation plasterwork, white and grey; Colour machine print, on paper; Possibly produced by B. J. Allan & Son; England; 1850-75.
Physical description
Ceiling paper with floral and imitation plasterwork, white and grey; Colour machine print, on paper.
Dimensions
  • Average size of diameter height: 52.1cm
  • Average size of diameter width: 52.1cm
Dimensions from: 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.
Gallery label
The full text of the label is as follows:

"WALLPAPER CEILING ROSETTE
English, 1850-75
Colour machine print possibly produced by J.B. Allan & Son

This rosette imitates moulded plaster or papier mâché. Its design is created by bending an acanthus moulding into a circle.

E.77-1947 (Given by Mr. Martin Battersby)"
Credit line
Given by Mr Martin Battersby
Object history
This rosette imitates moulded plaster or papier mâché. Its design is created by bending an acanthus moulding into a circle.
Subjects depicted
Floral Patterns
Plasterwork
Rosettes
Architectural Elements
Summary
It was common in the 18th and 19th centuries to use ceiling papers whch had been printed to imitate moulded plaster or papier mâché, both of which were more expensive methods of ceiling decoration. This particular example shows a rosette which would have been used for the centre of the ceiling. The manufacturer of this paper has not been postively identified, but the firm B. J. Allan & Son exhibited very similar pieces at the Paris International Exhibition of 1878.
Bibliographic references
  • 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 and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1947, London: HMSO, 1950.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.77-1947

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Record createdJuly 8, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O113975/wallpaper-b-j-allan/
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