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Wallpaper

ca. 1960-1970 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Embossed wallcoverings have been in use since the 16th and 17th centuries when gilded and embossed leather wallhangings were used in wealthy households. In the later 19th century embossing was applied to papers and to other materials used as hard-wearing wallcoverings, designed to imitate leather hangings, moulded plasterwork or carved wood panelling. Embossed materials such as Lincrusta and Anaglypta became popular, but these were heavy and difficult to hang (and difficult to remove). By the 1960s wallpaper manufacturers had invented methods of producing lighter embosssed papers to achieve the same decorative effects. Such papers were available in many different patterns. This is one of seven samples from Melody Mills Ltd. in the V&A collection.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Blind embossing with colour line-block
Brief description
Sample of embossed wallpaper produced by Melody Mills Ltd, c.1960-70
Physical description
Sample of duplex embossed wallpaper
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
  • Width: 25cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Steve Scott, Production Manager, Anstey Wallpaper Co. Ltd., Leicester
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Summary
Embossed wallcoverings have been in use since the 16th and 17th centuries when gilded and embossed leather wallhangings were used in wealthy households. In the later 19th century embossing was applied to papers and to other materials used as hard-wearing wallcoverings, designed to imitate leather hangings, moulded plasterwork or carved wood panelling. Embossed materials such as Lincrusta and Anaglypta became popular, but these were heavy and difficult to hang (and difficult to remove). By the 1960s wallpaper manufacturers had invented methods of producing lighter embosssed papers to achieve the same decorative effects. Such papers were available in many different patterns. This is one of seven samples from Melody Mills Ltd. in the V&A collection.
Bibliographic reference
John Hall, 'Embossed Images on Paper', Part II, Kingston University, 1996, p.63
Collection
Accession number
E.839-1996

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Record createdJuly 20, 2005
Record URL
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