Neoclassical Revival Wallpaper

LES SYLPHIDES, from the Phelps-Hatheway House 1794 Suffield, Connecticut. This lot includes one triple roll + one double roll (total 5 rolls). Each roll is 17 1/4 ft, for a grand total of 86 1/4 ft or approx. 28.5 yards for the entire lot. Width: 29.5 inches Labelled 69068-2 R-1206568A The Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden highlights the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by two wealthy 18th-century Connecticut Valley families until their fortunes collapsed. Suffield native Shem Burbank built the center chimney structure in 1761 where he and his wife Anna Fitch Burbank raised nine children. A merchant of British goods, Burbank’s business suffered during the American Revolution. In 1788, he sold the house to Oliver Phelps originally of Windsor, who served as Deputy Commissary under George Washington. In 1794, Phelps commissioned the addition of a substantial wing decorated with imported Parisian wallpaper in the Neoclassical style in vogue at the time(seen here). The contrasts between the two sections of the house further highlight the differences between Burbank’s and Phelps’ personalities, experiences, and times. The Hatheway family took possession of the house from the early 1800s to 1914, accumulating an attic full of artifacts that document life from that time. Sumner Fuller and his mother Emma carefully preserved the property which was donated to the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society (now CTL) upon Mrs. Fuller’s death in 1956. Today, the museum boasts an extensive collection of 18th-century antiques while the grounds feature a Colonial Revival garden installed by landscape architect Mary Wells...

Antique panoramic scenic woodblock wallpaper by Jean Zuber, Paysage Italian: 6-9. 4 antique panels of the iconic Paysage Italien (Italian Landscape) panoramic scenic wallpaper by Zuber. We date this set of prints to between 1912-1920. Panels 1-5 were installed in the home’s front entry. Panels 6-9 were never installed and stored in the home for decades. Each panel is approximately 20 inches wide and 13.5 feet long. Italianate scene occupies approximately 6 feet of the 13.5 length. This is unpasted paper with a matte finish. The panoramic scenery "Italian landscape" is still printed today "à la planche" with the 240 antique woodblocks, carved in 1912. The woodblocks have been classified as Historical Monuments by the French Ministry of Culture. Zune’s is the last print house in the world to produce panoramic sceneries with woodblocks. The perpetuation of this printing technique and the use of antique materials give Zuber's panoramic sceneries the status of a true work of art. Zuber & Cie is the oldest surviving wallpaper manufacturer in the world. As the fabric industry in France grew throughout the second half of the 18th century, the production of printed wall decor began to emerge in a few small workshops in Paris and surrounding areas. In 1790, a fabric printer from Mulhouse established a paper printing workshop in 1790 for his son. By 1797, the workshop moved into a former commandry of the Teutonic Knights in Rixheim and remains there to this day. Jean Zuber started in the company at 17 as a lowly sales representative but by 1802 came to be the sole owner of the workshop. The workshop took his name in the first decade of the century and experienced great success in the years that followed. The first scenic wallpapers appeared in France in 1804. More were printed during the French Restauration and production slowly declined after the Second Empire. France was the only country to ever print scenic wallpapers. Zuber is and has been considered the premier printhouse for large scenic prints. Zuber quality and scale of production is outstanding and its history unmatched - it is the only workshop that has remained active since the birth of the art form and continues to print scenes with their original blocks to this day. Today, approximately 90% of Zuber production is still printed using the traditional techniques and original Zuber woodblocks. Zuber & Cie Apart from their iconic scenic wallpapers, the factory created a large collection of wallpaper designs or patterns such as friezes, borders, ceiling roses and architectural trompe l’oeil. They necessitated the engraving of tens of thousands woodblocks. Between 1804 and 1860, Jean Zuber and his successors produced 25 scenes. The secret behind their success was the participation of great artists who were able to combine their talent and the technical requirements of production to produce a real mural. Among these artists, Pierre Monguin who created 7 scenes for the factory. His “Vues de Suisse” is the first scenic wallpaper created in France. DELTIL created several important scenes such as “Brésil”, “Vues d’Amérique du Nord” and “Courses de chevaux...

The Herbarium of Colette by Clarence House, vintage handprinted floral wallpaper. Rare limited edition wallpaper, handprinted. Although little known today,...

Gorgeous handprinted Scalamandre Wallpaper "Memento" design in gold / cream colorway. Long discontinued. Trompe L'oeil, whimsical, figural print. Virtually impossible to come by, lon...

A large painted canvas theater scenic backdrop from Maine, circa 1880, depicting a three dimensional cream colored neoclassical style doorway on a...

a Zuber panoramic wallpaper fragment done in grisaille depicting a classical setting with men, women and children. Now a three panel screen with painted reverse faux marble panels a...