WALLPAPERWALLPAPERHistory

400 B.C.400 B.C.• Earliest form of paper was introduced by the

Egyptians. (papyrus)

200 B.C.200 B.C.• The first wallpaper appeared in ancient China,

because they glued rice paper onto their walls

105 A.D.105 A.D.• The Chinese started making paper from textile

waste, i.e. from rags.• This was the birth of paper as we know it today.

88thth Century Century• Several Chinese prisoners, with papermaking

skills, worked under Arabs, and taught them how to manufacture paper

• The Arabs then spread this knowledge throughout the Middle East

1010thth Century Century• Arabians were substituting linen fibres for wood &

bamboo. Creating a finer sheet of paper• Paper now reached a much higher quality level

1212thth Century Century

• Papermaking spreads throughout Europe

14181418• The earliest European block prints were religious

souvenirs, known as “Helgen”• This type of printing may also have been used by the Chinese, as early as the 5th Century

14811481• King Louis XI of France has 50 rolls of paper

painted by an artist• Other rich Europeans commissioned artists to

paint for their walls• Real wallpaper can hardly be said to exist until

the advent of the printing press

15091509• Earliest known fragment of wallpaper was found

on beams in the Lodge of Christ’s College, Cambridge (dated 1509)

• It is an Italian design, printed on the back of a proclamation by Henry VIII

• It is attributed to Hugo Goes, a printer from York

15991599• A guild of paperhangers is established in France

16751675• Jean-Michel Papillon, a French engraver &

considered to be the inventor of wallpaper, starts making block designs in matching, continuous patterns.

• Wallpaper as we know it is on its way

16801680• Oldest example of Flock wallpaper comes from

Worcester & is created in approximately 1680

1818thth Century Century• English develop manufacturing methods• Fashion conscious Londoners order expensive,

hand made papers• Papers include, flock papers, marble & stucco

effects & borders

17391739• Wallpaper becomes popular in America• Plunket Fleeson begins printing wallpaper in

Philadelphia

17781778• King Louis XVI issues a decree that requires the

length of wallpaper to be about 34 feet

17811781• After American revolution, they set up workshops

of their own• Wallpaper becomes fashionable• Designs range from rambling roses to patriotic

images

17851785• The French invent the first machine for printing

wallpaper• Also invent a way to make an endless roll of

wallpaper

17981798• Lithography is invented in Germany, by Alois

Senefelder• This is a method using a plate or stone which has

a completely smooth surface

18001800• French scenic

papers printed with hand carved blocks, some taking as many as 5,000 blocks to produce, become popular

18391839• English invent a four colour surface printing

machine• Designs are on hand cut cylinders that can print

400 rolls per day• It was invented by Charles Potter from Darwen in

Lancashire