Era: 1815-1830
Bamboo and Drapery – Brockschmidt & Coleman Colorway
Adelphi Paper Hangings asked designers Bill Brockschmidt and Courtney Coleman from Brockschmidt & Coleman to create custom colorways for five historical wallpapers. Read more about Brockschmidt & Coleman and what inspired them to create the colorways. Bamboo and Drapery was printed by Moses Grant Jr., a highly successful Boston manufacturer. His papers have been identified … Continued
Blanchard Ashlar
One mark of a successful block printed pattern is when multiple design characteristics are rendered with just a few blocks. In the case of this ashlar (originally installed in the Medford, Massachusetts home of Andrew Blanchard) not only are the tools of dimensionality – bright highlights and accompanying shadows – depicted, but the nearly geologically accurate marbling is … Continued
Quarter Sawn Oak
From the archives of Historic New England, Boston. Although the original wallpaper was machine printed, the precise design structure allowed for an easy translation to block printing. This type of pattern may have been designed to be used as a wainscot decoration.
Berrien House Knotted Drapery
Construction of the Savannah house of Revolutionary veteran John Berrien was started in 1791; within a decade of its completion this decidedly graphic pattern was installed in a staircase. Like several other patterns from the Berrien House, this one shares both motif and structural aspects with papers from Philadelphia and therefore a similar attribute seems plausible. This first … Continued
Virchaux Drapery
This stylized drapery pattern and its coordinating Swan Frieze (a separate border) were designed by the internationally known architect Josef Ramée, in Philadelphia. Ramée, who had previous wallpaper manufacturing experience while in Belgium, entered into partnership with Henry Virchaux, a French émigré printer working in Philadelphia. This paper was one of many they submitted for … Continued
Vine and Paisley
This pattern was discovered in the front parlor of a Greek Revival farmhouse in Schuylerville NY, along with Adelphi’s Grape Cluster Frieze and the Greek Key Border, which was used to trim the doors and windows. All three papers were printed by the French firm of Jacquemart et Bernard. The surprising use of violet in … Continued
Van Cortlandt Rosette
The Georgian style home of Frederick Van Cortlandt, in The Bronx, was commissioned in 1748. However, the dining room wallpaper reproduced here was a later, 19th century addition. By this time American clients viewed France, rather than England, as the preferred source for high end wallpapers. The original Jacquemart et Bernard pattern (#5063) is an … Continued
Toile de la Fontaine
The original document for this pastoral figure pattern was found on a French folding screen in Adelphi’s collection. Though printed around 1815 it appears to be based on circa 1780 Continental engraving. Also, it may possibly relate to an earlier textile; certainly it resembles a toile de Jouy. This serene landscape was originally printed on … Continued
Plymouth Medallion
Medium-scale medallions used as a central motif were found in patterns from the 1820s to the 1840s. Most likely of American origin, this paper is quite representative of the period; it was found in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Its relatively modest size suggests that it would have been used for a bedroom or parlor, perhaps augmented by … Continued
Ornament and Stripe
Adelphi’s Janes & Bolles Collection is reproduced from the earliest known American wallpaper sample book, now in the collection of Old Sturbridge Village. It was produced by the firm of Janes & Bolles, which operated from 1822-1827 in Hartford, Connecticut. The sample book provides 22-inch square samples of each pattern, with alternate colorways for most … Continued