wallpaper art

"Historic Paperhanging Techniques" is now available as a free download here (bottom of page).

Little has been written on paperhanging technique. Trade magazines tell about the workaday world of the paperhanger, but these didn't start until 1875 and are not widely available. Nevertheless, there's a considerable body of information out there if you know where to look: this essay helps you do just that.

This essay of 6,000 words was written for the International Preservation Trades Workshop, Lancaster, PA, Aug. 2-6, 2011. It's dressed up with a fabulous picture postcard of an early 20th century paperhanger getting it done. The picture was supplied by master paperhanger Don Leetz of Wisconsin. Thanks, Don!

The essay brings in European sources like articles from Geert Wisse (Belgium), and Phillippe Fabray and Bernard Jacque (France). I only regret that the Commonwealth countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada) were not addressed this time around. Surely they deserve further study. Wallpaper  was rampant in the 19th century and we see the same widespread use of hessian on plank walls, for example, in these countries, just as in the United States.

Hard copies in a plastic binder are available at no cost to non-profits, so let me know by email if these would find a good home in a library or other archive: info@wallpaperscholar.com

Download: Full Article