Wallpaper

Object Name:

Wallpaper

Object ID:

1961.032.09 a-c

Place of Origin:

France

Date:

circa 1830

Description:

Wallpaper, gray background, 3 pieces, rolled.

A. Grisaille background (circles and lines) and stripe (asymmetric) 1.9" band vertical on left side with dark gray background and light gray repeat of perhaps fanciful flower decoration. Overlay empire motifs, yellow, brown, and white Pan, alternating with Venus and Cupid in front of and above, draped female figure (Venus) sitting on a large sea shell boat, being drawn by two swans. Venus has pink and white, long sash in air above her. Aquatic plants and arc under bottom of scene with cattails at either edge. Cupid has reins leading down to swans. Pink, greens, white and yellow. Above that is another winged Pan with imaginative rococo face with gold shield covering where his legs would be. At top of sheet is another segment of another scene. Paper made from sheets glued together and are 15.5" high each. Visible scene overlap 15.2".

B. Continuation of sheet A: Draped female (Aphrodite) figure riding on two dolphins. Floating green and white sash overhead. Facing right. Cupid in air above and in front of her. Cupid holding reins that lead to dolphins' heads. Water plants in arc under figure. Cattails at either end of arc. Repeat of winged Pan above her. Sheets of paper 15.5" high, glued together. Visible scene overlap 15.2". Repeat distance for Pan figure, 30.5".

C. This piece continuation of both sheets A and B. Top of sheet scene is of Aphrodite with dolphins, alternating with Venus with the swans as next scene with Pan in between. Ends at bottom with partial scene of Aphrodite; part cut off. Unfinished portion at top with no decoration, just background color 4.9". Background color at terminates irregularly at end of sheet. Background color gray. Paper off-white. Full repeat 60.6" from top of upper Aphrodite design to top of bottom Aphrodite design. Repeat of 30.3" for Pan design. On right side, long gray line 0.8" from edge. On left side, blank band, 0.5" wide from edge, bounded by continuous design element with dark gray background with repeating fanciful floral decoration. May be repeat of border on left, 30.3" long. Sheet height 15.5". Pattern 18.8" from left design to right design edge. No identification or color test points on any of the three sheets. On back side of sheet at left edge, areas of gray color seepage under edge a little. On right side, also a few little areas with gray seepage.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-36.4 W-20 inches

Credit Line:

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner L. King

People:

King, Gardner L. (1893-1963), King, Constance J. (1893-1984)