Wallpaper samples taken from a villa in Taft Street, in Brooklyn, Wellington, show changing fashions for wallpaper designs. The oldest, dating from around 1890, is a simulated oak-grain pattern – often woodwork, too, was painted to represent oak or walnut. The next two, from around 1910, follow the trend for rich, earthy colours and elaborate patterns. One is predominantly brown with vertical patterned stripes and occasional fruit motifs; the other is red with a shadowy floral design and background squiggles. The last, dating from the 1920s, is a stylised fruit-and-foliage design on a black background in soothing shades of blue, grey, green, brown, orange and cream. At this time wood panelling was often used in combination with or instead of wallpaper.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Heritage New Zealand – Pouhere Taonga
Reference:
GH.495.1; GH509.1; GH.526; GH.576
Permission of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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