PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Historic types of wallpaper and decorative schemes of interiors
1.1. EARLY WALLPAPERS
After parchment had been gradually replaced by paper at the
beginning of the 15th century, the first patterned papers, known
as Buntpapiere, were printed. The term refers to all kinds of coloured,
printed and embossed papers or to paper products imitating
a certain material, such as leather wall covers, 43 wood,
printed cotton and embroidery. Most of the examples of these
paper wall covers have been found in Germany, northern Italy
and the Netherlands. This is due to the fact that in these countries
the graphic arts were most prominent. 44 Papers depicting
wood grain, wooden inlays and heraldic symbols were printed
with black ink on separate sheets of rag-paper. (Fig. 1) Although
block-printing (for more, see pp. 114–116) was already known
in Europe as a means for decorating textiles, the first attempts
to use wooden blocks to print on paper were made in the last
third of the 14th century. Most of the preserved examples of early
papers have been found on ceilings or inside various pieces of
furniture (cupboards, drawers, boxes etc.), since their use was
limited by the fragility of the material and imperfect wall finishing.
(Fig. 2)
The first type of paper with continuous designs was made
by producers of popular prints and cards. 45 They were called
dominos and most frequently depicted small diaper patterns
printed in black and coloured with stencils.
Starting in the 17th century, templates cut of leather or parchment
were used to add colour to black-and-white ornaments.
The most frequently used colours were blue, orange, pink and
green. 46 By the end of the century, separate paper sheets were
glued together to form a roll of paper, which was easier to store,
print and sell. The length of a ”piece” or roll of wallpaper was
43
Albert Haemmerle, Olga Hirsch, Buntpapier. Herkommen, Geschichte, Techniken,
Beziehungen zur Kunst (München: Verlag Georg D.W. Callvey, 1961), 11.
44
Geert Wisse, “Manifold Beginnings: Single-Sheet Papers” in The Papered Wall. The
History, Patterns and Techniques of Wallpaper, ed., Lesley Hoskins (London: Thames
and Hudson Ltd., 2005), 8.
45
Ibid., 13.
46
Wells-Cole, “Flocks, Florals and Fancies: English Manufacture 1680–1830” in
The Papered Wall. The History, Patterns and Techniques of Wallpaper, ed. Lesley Hoskins
(London: Thames and Hudson Ltd., 2005), 22.
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