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
Unbefitting to the quality of this 19th century paper, the surviving sample wa...Unbefitting to the quality of this 19th century paper, the surviving sample was retrieved, not from the walls of a smart Richmond townhouse, but from a skip outside it, during a 1989 refurbishment. A delicate tudor rose, the execution is typical of...more
Mandalay’ (Bateman’s) c.1712 This tree of life design is drawn directly from t...Mandalay’ (Bateman’s) c.1712 This tree of life design is drawn directly from the leather wallcoverings in the dining room at Bateman’s, a Jacobean mansion in East Sussex. Elaborate designs such as these were inspired by 17th-century Indian chintzes,...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
Paradise (c1940) celebrates a truly rich mix of styles. The document from whic...Paradise (c1940) celebrates a truly rich mix of styles. The document from which this paper is drawn is actually a 20th Century piece, but the subject – exotic flora and the familiar oriental ho-ho birds - is classic ancient Chinoiserie, whilst the...more
An Arts & Crafts motif in the manner of Voysey, a leading light of the movemen...An Arts & Crafts motif in the manner of Voysey, a leading light of the movement who was perhaps more famous as an architect than as a wallpaper designer. Although this colourful wallpaper was removed from a 19th century house in Kensington, its actual...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
Faithfully reproduced, but increased in scale, from a fabulous piece, this his...Faithfully reproduced, but increased in scale, from a fabulous piece, this historical panorama of the capital was published by The London Illustrated News in 1851. This hand drawn, hand painted scene depicts the buildings and landscape along the River...more
Taking the exact proportion and structural quality of the Broad Stripe, each b...Taking the exact proportion and structural quality of the Broad Stripe, each band in this more complex version comprises 42 ‘pin stripes,’ creating a sharper, more contemporary look that appeals at first glance and offers more on closer inspection....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
Paradise (c1940) celebrates a truly rich mix of styles. The document from whic...Paradise (c1940) celebrates a truly rich mix of styles. The document from which this paper is drawn is actually a 20th Century piece, but the subject – exotic flora and the familiar oriental ho-ho birds - is classic ancient Chinoiserie, whilst the...more