This relatively modest pattern was uncovered during the renovation of a home in Georgetown, Delaware. Originally machine printed, it contains elements of both an earlier aesthetic and hints of the direction in which wallpaper design was to develop. The use of highly defined imitation plaster or stucco motifs echoes neoclassical devices of the early 1800s, while the wide placement of the individual medallions reflects growing desire to move away from more voluminous papers of the mid-century.

By the 1860s machine roller printing began to replace block printing as the dominant technology of the industry. Even so, during the transition period pattern design often retained a strong influence form the block printing era. Later, smaller, repetitive design motifs not well suited for hand printing began to dominate block printing largely disappeared until it was revived towards the end of the 19th century in the Arts and Crafts movement.

Adelphi occasionally reproduces patterns from this post-1860s period when they retain sufficient design and color characteristics lend themselves well to block printing and when they will benefit from the subtlety and attention to detail that block printing allows.

Repeat 11 inches
Width 19 inches
Straight Match

The historic colorway shown above is double width; alternative colorways are single width.