Clockwise from top left:
Tim Goslin's "Stargaz-
ing" two of Bradbury &
Bradbury's papers, both
based on original William
Monis designs; "Wind-
mill," a hand-blocked
paper from New York
artist Joanna Rock
WALLS
HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE MAR-
garet Thatcher era. Only a few years ago, a favorite put-down of the
English prime minister's humble origins was, "She likes wallpaper,
you know." Rare was the woman of elegant pretensions who glued any-
thing to her walls— except, perhaps, silk panels painted sometime in
the 18th century.
Today, wallpaper is well-established as a stylish and, yes, elegant
alternative to paint, and major manufacturers offer thousands of new
work on the most florid decors of a century ago.
Donna Beth Joy Shapiro, a history and preservation buff who has
turned her passion for Victoriana into a business, says the Bradbury
& Bradbury papers she carries in her Old Waverly History Exchange
& Tea Room in Baltimore, Maryland, are among the most authentic
reproductions available. Patterns include designs adapted from those
of 19th-century artists like William Morris and Christopher Dresser.
Shapiro describes them as "incredibly gorgeous and rich in color." The
TODAY'S WALLPAPERS OFFER EVERYTHING FROM COZY
VICTORIAN FLORALS TO VIVID LICHTENSTEIN MURALS
BILL MCALLEN
AND STARS THAT GLOW IN THE DARK. BY ALYNNE RHYS
patterns, many of them coordinated in color groups with complementary
price depends on the number of colors used. Some patterns can cost
borders and fabrics. Famous designers, following in footsteps left by
up to $150 a roll, but others fall between $30 and $50, which makes
Arts-and-Crafts movement leader William Morris in the late 1800s, are
them competitive in price with many of the mass-produced vinyls.
lending an eye to wallpapers. They include couturier Karl Lagerfeld,
The most authentic Victorian wallpaper reproductions are those the
whose Gramercy wallpapers are available at decorating shops all over,
Arthur Sanderson & Sons company makes from the original pearwood
and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, whose signed limited edition of 300
blocks carved under Morris' supervision. And Scalamandre prints
murals, priced at $5,000, is available at the A/D Gallery in lower Man-
copies of six designs from Morris' original artworks.
hattan's Soho district In addition, hundreds of craftspeople have set
Katie Judd, manager of Thybony Wallcovering in the Michigan De-
up cottage industries in custom hand-blocked wallpapers. Among them
sign Center says shopping for wallpaper is similar to shopping for new
is Joanna Rock, whose basement workshop in
clothes. "All the new lines come out in the fall
Above,
a
Roy
Lichtenstein
mural
for
your
wall,
from
Dobbs Ferry, New York (212-693-7699) has
and spring," says Judd. She is anticipating a
AAP Gallery in Manhattan (Judd plywood chairs; car-
turned out linoleum-block prints on papers that pet by Gerhard Rider); below, oversized sunflowers good response from the Paloma Picasso line
now grace the walls of celebrities like Diane from Goslin's Morningstar Studio.
which will debut in the spring.
Sawyer.
Tim Goslin, former display director of Fioruc-
This is not your great-grandmother's wall-
ci in Manhattan, presents high tradition with
paper. But you loved your great-grandmother's
an eye-popping twist He takes conservative de-
wallpaper? Not to worry. Cozy Victorian florals
sign elements such as stars, flowers, fleurs-de-
remain amazingly popular. Ambitious authen-
lis, or Napoleonic bees, and presents them in
ticity seekers even trek through flea markets
huge scale with surprising color combinations.
and antique shops to find old rolls. Others find
Among his more celebrated creations are
the look reproduced in modem catalogues such
"Stargazing," with its large-scale federal-inspired
as Schumacher's "Victorian Society" line, which
stars; "Sunflower," whose 27-inch flowers pop
even includes textured papers that simulate Vic-
off the walls like a Van Gogh in Brobdingnag;
torian tin ceilings and plaster borders. Interi-
and his Botticelli-inspired "Venus," with the
or decorator Mario Buatta, who designs for
goddess on the half shell. And for children,
C&A Wallcovering's "Sterling" line, bases his
Goslin created "Orbit," with stars and moons
STYLE • FALL 1992
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