Chinese Wallpaper in Britain and Ireland

Chinese wallpaper has been an important element of European interior decoration for 300 years. As trade between Europe and China flourished in the 17th century, Europeans developed a strong taste for Chinese art and design. The stunningly beautiful wall coverings now known as Chinese wallpaper were developed by Chinese painting workshops in response to western demand. A sophisticated synthesis of eastern and western art, Chinese wallpapers were an early-modern global product and they are still popular and influential today.

In spite of their spectacular beauty, Chinese wallpapers have not been studied in any depth until relatively recently. This book provides an overview of some of the most significant Chinese wallpapers surviving in the British Isles. Sumptuously illustrated, it shows how these wallpapers became a staple ingredient of high-end interiors while always retaining a touch of the exotic. The book charts the stylistic development of Chinese wallpaper, allowing individual wallpapers to be more securely dated. It also touches on the China trade, the crucial role of the paper-hangers and the social significance of Chinese-style decoration in Britain.

Chinese Wallpaper in Britain and Ireland is a ground-breaking resource for both scholars and designers, as well as for anyone interested in historic interior decoration.