Darwin (c1760) represents one of the Whitworth Art Gallery’s most important re...Darwin (c1760) represents one of the Whitworth Art Gallery’s most important recent acquisitions and,with a twist in its story, this exemplary English piece was actually found intact in a house in Aix-en-Provence, France. The exotic scene accurately...more
Based on one of the oldest surviving documents in the wallpaper archive, this ...Based on one of the oldest surviving documents in the wallpaper archive, this fragment from an embossed leather wall hanging actually predates wallpaper. Panels of embossed and painted leather, usually with a floral pattern, were popular, though...more
A classic ‘Roman’ or Regency proportion stripe originally produced in the 18th...A classic ‘Roman’ or Regency proportion stripe originally produced in the 18th Century using the ‘open trough’ method, in which the stripes were created by bands of paint seeping through holes or slots in the bottom of a wooden trough, onto the surface...more
Millefleur’ (Montacute House) c.1478 The floral detail in this design is drawn...Millefleur’ (Montacute House) c.1478 The floral detail in this design is drawn directly from an incredibly rare, important and lovingly-conserved object, the oldest tapestry in the care of the National Trust. Residing at Montacute House in Somerset,...more
This flamboyant floral design featuring large, stylised poppies is a classic e...This flamboyant floral design featuring large, stylised poppies is a classic example of those in production during the late 19th century. Although the designer is unknown, it is thought that it may have been the work of Arthur L. Gwatkin who produced...more
Each inset panel within this design originally contained an ornate scene, a re...Each inset panel within this design originally contained an ornate scene, a reflection of its origins in Bloomsbury, an affluent area with a rich history. Having removed any extraneous detail, what remains is an unrefined but elegant wood panel-effect...more
The original wallpaper that inspired this design, found at a property in Carli...The original wallpaper that inspired this design, found at a property in Carlisle Street in Soho, London, is actually a much more complex pattern than the design we have extracted from it. By removing the solid stripes and extraneous leaf trail, we are...more
A large-scale, late-19th century wallpaper with a bold pattern of exotic birds...A large-scale, late-19th century wallpaper with a bold pattern of exotic birds and flowers. The paper had beenused in a curving stairwell in Crowe Hall, a Suffolk manor house where the vertical nature of the trailing patternemphasised the height of the...more
Beech Nut' (Oxburgh Hall) c.1782 An authentic, late Georgian design, this pape...Beech Nut' (Oxburgh Hall) c.1782 An authentic, late Georgian design, this paper was uncovered at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk. Originally used within a brightly-coloured, flocked, floral border, the leaf and nut element was block-printed in a rather more...more
Unlike most of the source material for LittleGreene wallpapers, this design i...Unlike most of the source material for Little Greene wallpapers, this design is not drawn from a conventional pattern but rather is a reinterpretation of a fine illustrative painting from the mid-20th century. It represents the high-society trend for...more
Beech Nut' (Oxburgh Hall) c.1782 An authentic, late Georgian design, this pape...Beech Nut' (Oxburgh Hall) c.1782 An authentic, late Georgian design, this paper was uncovered at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk. Originally used within a brightly-coloured, flocked, floral border, the leaf and nut element was block-printed in a rather more...more
With its single print colour, this paper is a younger sister to the design Mar...With its single print colour, this paper is a younger sister to the design Marlborough, but carries the same delicate elegance. Amazingly, both papers were recorded from the same property, Marlborough House overlooking St James’ Park. The date cites...more
A large-scale, late-19th century wallpaper with a bold pattern of exotic birds...A large-scale, late-19th century wallpaper with a bold pattern of exotic birds and flowers. The paper had beenused in a curving stairwell in Crowe Hall, a Suffolk manor house where the vertical nature of the trailing patternemphasised the height of the...more
In the late 18th Century, Erddig in Wales was the family home of Philip Yorke ...In the late 18th Century, Erddig in Wales was the family home of Philip Yorke and his wife Elizabeth. They would have selected this hand-painted Chinese wallpaper, lavishly decorated with exquisite birds and flowers, for guests staying in the...more