Explore The Archives
Every roll of wallpaper we create has been drawn from an historic pattern we have found. Some were originally hand-printed pieces, discovered as fragments behind layers of wallpapers in prestigious period homes. Other documents have been carefully preserved in archives at Whitworth Art Gallery in Little Greene’s home in Manchester.
Founded in 1889 as the first English gallery in a park, the Whitworth has recently been transformed by a £15million development. Having been awarded the Art Fund’s ‘Museum of the Year 2015,’ the gallery has an extensive wallpaper archive featuring wallpapers dating back to the 17th century.
From January 29th to September 4th 2016, The Whitworth’s Wallpaper exhibition featured highlights from their collection of 50’s and 60’s wallpapers including designs by Roger Nicholson and John Line.
The exhibition featured the original documents of three Little Greene designs.
Most recently acquired by Little Greene for the ‘20th Century Papers’ collection, ‘Zingara’ is a design from a John Line collection produced in 1960. The colourway 'Cerulean Sea' is completely faithful to the document found in the wallpaper archive at Manchester's Whitworth Art Gallery. The elegant freehand line quality of the original drawing serves additional charm to this relaxed scene of boats resting at anchor.
Shop Zingara - Cerulean Sea
‘Florette’ is a striking, light-hearted design that embodies the 1950s, this paper was found in “The Architects Book of 100 Wallpapers” published in 1954. The original paper shows a selection of line-drawn dandelions, almost lost against an informal freehand trellis. The contemporary interpretation is a little easier on the eye, featuring the six subtly varied flower heads on a solid ground of colour.
Shop Florette - Acid Drop
‘Hampstead’ was inspired by the hand-printed ‘Apsley Collection’ by John Line & Sons, this relaxed interpretation of an urban Hampstead scene is attributed to designer Els Calvetti. All the line detail is retained and even the original colourways of grey and blue were accurately recreated by Little Greene for the 21st Century interior.
Shop Hampstead - PenumbraThe "wallpaper" Exhibition continued until September the 4th 2016 and is free to visit.
Visit www.littlegreene.com for more information and to browse our range of historic paint colours and wallpapers.
