Sunday, February 13, 2011

Decorative Wallpaper...

Joseph Dufour from the Musee de Papier et Peint

Well, it just doesn't get any better than this! Just look at those colors. The Hermes orange and cool turquoise pop against the muddied background. This is definitely work by Joseph Dufour.




Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique


Joseph and Pierre Dufour began their company in 1797. Sucess was not immediate and they liquidated soon after. Pierre left the business and when Joseph collaborated with Jean-Gabriel Charvet to create this twenty panel mural based on Captain Cook's voyages to the South Seas, Americans eagerly purchased it!


Joseph Ramee'

Joseph Ramee' was the  French architect and interior designer  that created this fabulous neoclassical motif. I love the stylized tonal design against the small red lined background.


The French seemed to master the hand blocked decorative papers in the 1880's. Using hand carved wood blocks and gouache paints, intricate designs using ribbons, urns and allegorical figures became popular.


Christopher Norman saw the importance of this era and produced a  modern line of papers based on the historic New England collection of 18th and 19th c wallpapers.


Adelphi has reintroduced panels based on Evariste Fragonard (son of Honore') These panels are widely known through their original production in the early 1900's.





Gracie is synonymous with asian influenced decorative papers.  Their choice of colors and intricate designs make Gracie paper distinguishable from other copies.



Dufour

Dufour also created stunning borders focusing on folds of fabric and floral motifs. He was fascinated with mimicking the sheen of silk and weaving floral trim against the soft fabric.

D. Giannelli was produced in France in the mid 1800's. This sample is from the Musee de Papier et Peints. The museum archives the most ornate papers from the 18th and 19th centuries.
These papers are only a small sampling of the true art that was produced in the 18th and 19th centuries. I hope these images inspired you to look at your walls in a new way!





17 comments:

Karena said...

Theresa, of course Gracie papers are fabulous, Dufour....omg just amazing works of art!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

La Petite Gallery said...

I too am from Texas. Gosh I grew up in Houston, there was only one wallpaper shope on Main Street. Wish I could remember the name (Joseph's)?? I was in the wallpaper line for 8 yrs, loved it and loved the reproductions early America and Duufour borders..My first visit.
Please drop by. yvonne

S. L. Sparks said...

MMMmmmmmm....yummy Theresa!

Mark D. Ruffner said...

As you might know, Theresa, I love all of these examples, and I'm tucking them away in neat little mental folders. I've spent the past week drawing up plans for my Pompeii walls, and I'm finding as much inspiration in such 19th century interpretations as I am in the original Pompeian reference. Thanks for a great posting! Mark

Brillante Interiors said...

Absolutely fabulous, in the right house and room they are stunning. An eye to the past, an eye to the future.

Gina said...

Dear Theresa, another well researched and excellent article. The first image is pretty spectacular.

Shandell's said...

I am in love with vintage wallpaper. These are amazing, the detail and colors are brilliant.
Each one a piece of artwork in itself.

Unknown said...

Long ago I bought 2 old French wallpaper fragments in grisaille for as Boston client from Carolle Tibaut-Pommerantz. We framed them and they were spectacular. Do you know her? http://www.antique-wallpaper.com. Beautiful post! Merci.

ceecee said...

Oh, to live with Dufour wallpapers! My grandmother had beautiful wallpaper - trellis' with cascading yellow roses. I've been known to spend hours browsing in wallpaper shops just for the fun of it.
Happy Valentine's Day, Theresa. Eat chocolate.
Catherine

Theresa Cheek said...

Mark,
I meant to share an old pompeii wallpaper with you. Let me find it again, ok?
Gina,
That first image is killer, isn't it?

Thanks for stopping by Susan!

J-A-D-
I thank you for the source!

Catherine-
Well, if you insist, I will eat some chocolate!!

Happy Valentines to all!!!

patrickgracewood said...

I worked very hard to get my studio and office walls the exact color of dried drywall compound- a very warm white. It took 8 pints of paint... Unfortunate name of final color was Beige Daze.... After your amazing post on wall paper it will be hard to return and feel as proud of my Beige Daze....sigh.

PA74 said...

Beautiful post Theresa , very well chosen pictures and informative comments.Old walpapers are also a major source of inspiration for me.Zuber was at Maison et Objet but they tend to show fabric and textiles these days more than wall paper...still beautiful and precious anyway.

Theresa Cheek said...

LOL! Patrick...there is a lot to be said for the color of dried JC. If if makes you feel any better, I once had it matched for my home. ;)

Pascal-I stayed away from Zuber on this post because it is discussed the most and it is the one company most people know of. I do love it though! Thank you for your comments.

Mark D. Ruffner said...

Theresa, I would love to see your Pompeii wallpaper sample. I'm at that stage of designing where I'm making a lot of comparisons and essentially deciding what essence of the genre I'd most enjoy living with. I think it's going to be original colors with the later neoclassic interpretation.

Kitty Shepherd said...

Hay, great blog, I am glad I found you.

Alan said...

As usual Theresa, any time I do a search on something (in this case Evariste Fragonard), your blog shows up high in the results. Thank you for all your intrepid sleuthing on behalf of us decorative artists.

Theresa Cheek said...

Alan-Always a pleasure to know I help someone with their research.

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