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A History of Wallpaper

Wallpaper is a form of material which can be used to decorate the inside walls of houses and public buildings. Paste is applied to the reverse of the paper to allow it to stick to the walls.

Where it all began...

The Chinese invented paper, and as early as 200BC the Chinese were gluing rice paper onto their walls for decorative purposes. In 1785 Christophe-Phillipe Oberkampf invented a machine used for printing colours on sheets of paper. Later in 1799 Louis Nicholas Robert made a machine that was capable of producing continuous lengths of paper, which could be used for wallpaper. 

In the 1860's the British wallpaper market was booming as it was a much cheaper alternative to the previous textile based wall coverings that succeeded it. 

Wallpaper has always been considered the inferior area of the decorative arts, being fragile, transient, fleeting and short lived. The designs are easily replaced and can often disappear completely. The V&A Museum strives to keep our historical record of wallpaper designs. It houses an archive collection of William Morris designs. 

William Morris - 'Grandfather of English Wallpaper Design'

During his lifetime Morris created over 50 different designs of wallpapers, inspired by nature and natural forms such as plants and flowers. Famous for block printed wallpaper, producing simple and intricate designs. He favoured using naturally sourced dyes and was a driving force in the Arts and Crafts Movement in the 19th Century. 

I feel inspired by his original designs, in their many forms whether they are simple or ornamental, they are part of our English heritage and stand the test of time in any modern home. Despite Morris being a socialist activist and environmentalist, ironically his original wallpapers have been found to contain the poison Arsenic as a colorant. 

Some of my personal favourite William Morris designs:

Strawberry Thief: A pretty and intricate design




Birds on a Trellis: A beautiful design including repeated motifs. Inspiration can be taken from the red flower motif designs. 




Although at first William Morris's designs were not very popular as people preferred a more French style design. Morris has had the last laugh as his designs have stood the test of time and are still being purchased in various forms today. 


Acanthus: I like this twisted and entangled design as it is using one motif in different directions and angles. I think the rich colours compliment each other and work well together. 



Here is the same design and pattern but in a more muted colour scheme. Im drawn to the subdued earthy tones used. I think the colours of the pattern work well in both designs. 




All of his artworks continue to inspire a new generation of print designers. 



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