DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1397#0152
PLATE 43.
PAPER-HANGINGS,
BY DESFQSSE, PAEIS.
\/T DESFOSSE worthily sustained the reputation of France in paper-hangings, not only by
--"-*- • great variety and good taste in patterns, of which we give some illustrations, but in those
block-printed pictures, which, however much objected to by a certain class of critics, are nevertheless
very clever, very pleasing, and well fitted for large cafes and places of public amusement. It is true
that " Prayer," after Couture, which was exhibited in 1855 at the Paris Exhibition, as well as in 1862,
was deficient in colour and effect; but there were landscapes both of M. Desfosse and M. Zuber
which really were perfect, and showed a wonderful power of reproducing artistic subjects by
machinery. The large flower-vases of Desfosse were also specially good ; and that gentleman fully
merited his medal " for excellence of design and perfection of manufacture," an honour which he
shared with that veteran in the art, M. Zuber.
Mr. Wyatt, in his very full and complete Report on Furniture and Decoration, Paris Exhibition,
1855, states that " about 1780 the manufacture of paper-hangings passed from England into France.*
The first manufacturers who established themselves there were Robert & Arthur: they were
followed by Reveillon; and the Revolution of 1789 commenced by the pillage of his factory in the
Faubourg St. Antoine. Le Grand was the third manufacturer in this trade. All these men opened
establishments in Paris. The house of Zuber set up a manufactory at Mulhausen in 1790, and rather
later Joseph began business at Macon, from whence he removed to Paris. Several large factories were
opened at Lyons ; but the chief part of this important manufacture was soon monopolized by Paris,
which still retains a leading position. The first notice of paper-hangings we meet with in the catalogues
of the early expositions occurs in the year X. of the Republic (1802), from which we learn that only
one manufacturer, M. Simon, of Paris, represented the power of the country in this branch of industry.
In the collection of the year 1806 we find notices of the existence of the trade at Nancy, Strasbourg,
Rixheiin, Vienne, Besancon, Neustadt, and Frankenthal, in the department of Mont-Tonnerre."
Savary, in his " Dictionary of Commerce," 1720, says that tonture lie laine, or flock hangings, were
first made at Rouen; but it appears that the process was rough and the result not successful. But
on the introduction of the manufacture in Paris, imitation tapestry hangings were made, and
flowers and grotesques successfully carried out. A French author, writing in 1723, says that " paper-
hangings, called tapestry in paper, were till lately only employed by the country people for their cottages,
or by small tradesmen in their shops and rooms; but towards the end of the 18th century the
manufacture was raised to such a point of perfection and beauty that, besides the quantities that were
exported abroad and to the principal cities of the kingdom, there was scarcely a house in Paris not
decorated with it." The official Report of 1851 adds that, "during the present century the French
have not only brought this branch of manufacture to a high state of perfection, but have also
introduced many important improvements ; such as the embossed flocks and the shading of flocks,
the perfect imitation of chintz, improvements in the satin grounds, and the introduction of work
printed from engraved cylinders."
"It is chiefly," says Mr. Wyatt, " in her delicate flower-papers, diapers, chintz-patterned and
silken-surfaced papers that France beats us industrially, f Her workmen are intelligent, quick-sighted,
clean-handed; and for the most part they work in light, cheerful ateliers, with flowers, or casts, or
engravings about them. The value of such premises, commercially, is not yet half sufficiently
appreciated in this country." We trust, however, some progress has been made in this respect
since 1855.
* As the trade of paper-staining is mentioned in 1586, and a manufactory existed at Rouen in 1620, Lanier's
patent in England, for flocking, not being taken out till 1634, to Franco appears due the priority of invention.
t To these should bo added landscape and figure-subjects, from the designs of the best masters, which are
not even attempted by our manufacturers.
PAPER-HANGINGS,
BY DESFQSSE, PAEIS.
\/T DESFOSSE worthily sustained the reputation of France in paper-hangings, not only by
--"-*- • great variety and good taste in patterns, of which we give some illustrations, but in those
block-printed pictures, which, however much objected to by a certain class of critics, are nevertheless
very clever, very pleasing, and well fitted for large cafes and places of public amusement. It is true
that " Prayer," after Couture, which was exhibited in 1855 at the Paris Exhibition, as well as in 1862,
was deficient in colour and effect; but there were landscapes both of M. Desfosse and M. Zuber
which really were perfect, and showed a wonderful power of reproducing artistic subjects by
machinery. The large flower-vases of Desfosse were also specially good ; and that gentleman fully
merited his medal " for excellence of design and perfection of manufacture," an honour which he
shared with that veteran in the art, M. Zuber.
Mr. Wyatt, in his very full and complete Report on Furniture and Decoration, Paris Exhibition,
1855, states that " about 1780 the manufacture of paper-hangings passed from England into France.*
The first manufacturers who established themselves there were Robert & Arthur: they were
followed by Reveillon; and the Revolution of 1789 commenced by the pillage of his factory in the
Faubourg St. Antoine. Le Grand was the third manufacturer in this trade. All these men opened
establishments in Paris. The house of Zuber set up a manufactory at Mulhausen in 1790, and rather
later Joseph began business at Macon, from whence he removed to Paris. Several large factories were
opened at Lyons ; but the chief part of this important manufacture was soon monopolized by Paris,
which still retains a leading position. The first notice of paper-hangings we meet with in the catalogues
of the early expositions occurs in the year X. of the Republic (1802), from which we learn that only
one manufacturer, M. Simon, of Paris, represented the power of the country in this branch of industry.
In the collection of the year 1806 we find notices of the existence of the trade at Nancy, Strasbourg,
Rixheiin, Vienne, Besancon, Neustadt, and Frankenthal, in the department of Mont-Tonnerre."
Savary, in his " Dictionary of Commerce," 1720, says that tonture lie laine, or flock hangings, were
first made at Rouen; but it appears that the process was rough and the result not successful. But
on the introduction of the manufacture in Paris, imitation tapestry hangings were made, and
flowers and grotesques successfully carried out. A French author, writing in 1723, says that " paper-
hangings, called tapestry in paper, were till lately only employed by the country people for their cottages,
or by small tradesmen in their shops and rooms; but towards the end of the 18th century the
manufacture was raised to such a point of perfection and beauty that, besides the quantities that were
exported abroad and to the principal cities of the kingdom, there was scarcely a house in Paris not
decorated with it." The official Report of 1851 adds that, "during the present century the French
have not only brought this branch of manufacture to a high state of perfection, but have also
introduced many important improvements ; such as the embossed flocks and the shading of flocks,
the perfect imitation of chintz, improvements in the satin grounds, and the introduction of work
printed from engraved cylinders."
"It is chiefly," says Mr. Wyatt, " in her delicate flower-papers, diapers, chintz-patterned and
silken-surfaced papers that France beats us industrially, f Her workmen are intelligent, quick-sighted,
clean-handed; and for the most part they work in light, cheerful ateliers, with flowers, or casts, or
engravings about them. The value of such premises, commercially, is not yet half sufficiently
appreciated in this country." We trust, however, some progress has been made in this respect
since 1855.
* As the trade of paper-staining is mentioned in 1586, and a manufactory existed at Rouen in 1620, Lanier's
patent in England, for flocking, not being taken out till 1634, to Franco appears due the priority of invention.
t To these should bo added landscape and figure-subjects, from the designs of the best masters, which are
not even attempted by our manufacturers.