Wallpaper thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case DW, Shelf 103

Wallpaper

ca.1850-75 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

It was difficult to keep wallpapers clean before the invention of washable surfaces or the practice of varnishing the surface. They quickly became marked or stained or simply accumulated surface dirt. One of the advantages of machine-printed papers was that they were cheap enough to replace regularly, which gave an appearance of cleanliness. This paper came from Uppark in West Sussex. This kind of light-coloured floral pattern was generally chosen for bedrooms or servants’ rooms.

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Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour print from engraved rollers, on paper
Brief description
Portion of wallpaper with a pattern of sprays of blue roses on a pale ground; Colour print from engraved rollers, on paper; Provenance: Uppark, West Sussex; English; 1850-75.
Physical description
Portion of wallpaper with a pattern of sprays of blue roses on a pale ground; Colour print from engraved rollers, on paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 45.4cm
  • Width: 49.4cm
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.
Credit line
Given by Mrs Jean Meade-Fetherstonhaugh
Object history
Given by Mrs Jean Meade-Fetherstonhaugh.

Provenance: Uppark, West Sussex.
This paper was superimposed over E.801-1969 (mid-19th century).
Production
This paper was superimposed over E.801-1969 (mid-19th century).
Subjects depicted
Summary
It was difficult to keep wallpapers clean before the invention of washable surfaces or the practice of varnishing the surface. They quickly became marked or stained or simply accumulated surface dirt. One of the advantages of machine-printed papers was that they were cheap enough to replace regularly, which gave an appearance of cleanliness. This paper came from Uppark in West Sussex. This kind of light-coloured floral pattern was generally chosen for bedrooms or servants’ rooms.
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.
  • Saunders, Gill. Wallpaper in Interior Decoration. V&A Publications. London. 2002. pp. 128. pl 112.
Collection
Accession number
E.800-1969

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Record createdFebruary 7, 2003
Record URL
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