Hobbies And Interests
History
Vintage wallpaper is defined as classic wallpaper with enduring design appeal. In the current time, it generally means wallpaper designs from before the 1970s.
Wall decoration has been around since Egyptian and Roman times. In later centuries, walls were covered with fabrics to keep cold drafts out of the house in colder climates. In homes of the wealthy, these were elaborate tapestries. Around the 1400s, wallpaper came along as a less expensive substitute.
As the demand grew for less expensive wall-coverings, printers began making more and more panels of decorative papers.
Wallpaper increased in Elizabethan England, and in Europe. The Chinese also started making wallpaper in the 1600s, with images landscapes, birds and flowers.
In 1739, wallpaper was available in America, from Plunket Fleeson in Philadelphia.
Americans copied the European designs until after the Revolutionary War. Wallpaper became all the rage in America, from the neoclassical to the cabbage rose. American companies made patriotic wallpapers during this time as well, which appear today in trunk linings and bandboxes.
Types
In your search for vintage wallpaper for the bedroom, expect to find lush prints of cabbage roses, gorgeous palms and hydrangeas, and other florals. You'll find floral papers from a range of eras, including L'art nouveau and Victorian.
For the kitchen and dining area, you'll find sweet gingham and lace prints with small strawberries, morning glories, pots and pans, ivy and tea sets.
For the bathroom you'll find nostalgic pastel sea shells, fish, and sailboats on black or navy backgrounds.
At Second Hand Rose in New York where they stock the largest collection of vintage wallpapers in the world, you'll find the coolest silver mylar wallpapers from the 1970s. These vintage wallpapers have disco and op-art patterns in reflective foils, vibrant retro colors and patterns.
Features
As you shop for antique wallpapers in stores, expect to see them in their original rolls. When shopping online, expect to view a small swatch of paper, sometimes with a coin placed on it for size comparison. Several companies will send you a small sample of your choice of wallpaper before you buy. As you search, expect to find plenty of Victorian antique wallpapers, Damask wallpapers, florals from the 1940s, art Deco geometrics, novelties from the 1950's. There's also a lot of 1960's Op Art.
Considerations
Browsing through vintage wallpaper sites is fun but also a challenge---there's a lot out there.
You can narrow your search by knowing exactly how much paper you'll need for your project. A store might have only a limited supply of a pattern, and will often state exactly how much is available below the image. Remember that vintage papers are expensive, so it's a good idea to hire a professional to hang the wallpaper. Also, be sure to check on the shipping costs, especially if you're buying from a European supplier.
Expert Insight
In addition to Second Hand Rose in New York, there are several online shops, both American and European: Lounge Design in The Netherlands; Design for Delight in The Netherlands; Hannah's Treasures in the U.S. and Tapetorama in Sweden.