June, 1906 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
4.03 
Old Time Wall Papers 
By Mary H. Northend 
SEY] HE recent revival of the Colonial 
style for interior decoration and fur- 
nishing, and the fad of collecting 
antique American furniture has also 
evolved an interest in wall papers of 
: Colonial pattern and the preservation 
of real antiques. Such antique wall papers are ex- 
ceedingly rare to-day, owing to their perishable char- 
acter, but a few are to be found in New England, New 
York, Virginia and Georgia. The real antiques have 
suddenly become very valuable, and their possession 
is becoming a source of great pride, especially in New 
England. 
Wall paper was not manufactured in this country 
to any extent until as late as 1830. Most of the papers 
even then were imported. Those which remain to us 
from Revolutionary days nearly all came from France. 
These papers were chiefly scenic in type and consisted 
of panoramic views, allegorical and mythological sub- 
jects, hunting scenes or little medallion landscapes. A 
few were simply fruits and flowers. In the South 
purely ornamental patterns, of the Louis XV. type, 
were most common, though a fine landscape paper is 
still to be seen in Andrew Jackson’s old home in 
Tennessee. 
Wall paper printing was a different matter a hundred years 
and more ago. To-day circular blocks turn out repeated 
patterns by the mile. In those days all was done by hand 
with square, flat blocks. It took dozens of these blocks, 
sometimes, to print one of the patterns which extend for 
several feet each way without a repeat, especially where sev- 
eral colors were used. Great patience and precision were 
necessary. At the St. Louis exposition this process was to be 
seen in actual operation, with all the slow labor of the old- 
time method. Two men and a boy ground out a little at 
at Salem, Massachusetts 
French Wall Paper of the Medallion Type in the Lindall-Andrew House 
OMe 
‘. a | 
Wall Paper in the Wheelwright House at Newburyport, Massachusetts 
a time the Livingston tree pattern, reproduced from the 
Livingston manor on the Hudson. 
A century ago, in spite of the expense, these wall papers 
from France were to be found in most of the best homes. 
To-day the most beautiful patterns are to be found in Massa- 
chusetts, including Nantucket, in Maine and New Hamp- 
shire. These are chiefly the medallion patterns and the pan- 
oramic views. ‘The latter are full of pictorial interest, and 
some of them display no mean quality of art. 
During the time of Salem’s commercial prosperity, her 
cumbersome ships brought from foreign lands, rolls of rare 
wall paper. Some of these decorated the homes 
while others reposed peacefully under the 
eaves. Little thought was given to the value 
of these artistic designs. They were so care- 
lessly treated that to-day they show plainly, on 
their surface, the ravages of time. More 
tenderly cherished, others are as fresh in their 
coloring as when first placed on the walls. 
One of the most interesting is seen in an old 
Salem home. It represents scenes from the 
life of Don Quixote. In this paper, reproduced 
in the illustration, the eccentric knight is tak- 
ing the oath of allegiance before starting out 
on his career. The panels depict phases of 
his journey and each is a story in itself. The 
paper is brown in coloring with a background 
of white. 
In direct contrast to this old-time hanging 
is another which remains in the Lindall-Andrew 
house in the same city. It represents pastoral 
scenes. Panels topped with pineapples define 
the groups. Each pattern is a distinctive 
picture, showing products of the field, the 
hunter in full pursuit of the deer, and other 
rural views. ‘This house is historic, being at 
one time the home of Rev. Thomas Bernard, 
who acted as mediator between the British 
