One of the interesting aspects of vintage snapshots is seeing the decor of rooms from long ago. Mid-century wallpaper is always fascinating because it so often clashes with everything else in the room, specifically the drapes and carpeting. Big tropical leaves seem to have been popular. (see also this older post) Why? Was it the war in the Pacific? I'm sure it wasn't. Is it left over from the beginning of the century? Similar wallpaper was used in one of the bedrooms of I think Blanche on The Golden Girls so it's been a popular pattern for a long time.
I'm sure if I dug deep enough I'd find a book about wallpaper through the years.
Click on image to see it larger.
This man is too busy looking after three of Snow White's dwarfs to worry about the wallpaper. That's Cranky on the left, with Confused on his lap, and Giggly by himself.
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It's another special category alright! Do you think it was colored mostly green like camouflage or something more startling like gold on blue?
ReplyDeleteThey don't make sofas like this anymore either. Lumpy and springy in a comfortable way these davenports were filled with horsehair that acquired every aroma and odor of the families that lived on them.
Yes! A special category. Bad wallpaper. It's not that the paper is so bad, it's how the paper was used. Let's indeed hope it was green and not say...pinks with green.
DeleteAh, the sort of sofas where occasionally a hair would stick out from the fabric and stick you in the leg. Good times. Good times.
It was Blanche. She had the big banana leaves, a pattern called Martinique — was originally commissioned for use in the Beverly Hills Hotel in the 1940s.
ReplyDeleteSee, I knew someone would know about wallpaper. Thanks for the info!
DeleteThree dwarfs. That's funny!
ReplyDeleteWallpaper does indeed have quite a history. The designs were often historical in nature or commemorated some event or person. Many designs became copies of copies of copies. I was in the wallpaper business for about 20 years, but that was a long time ago.
I've always found wallpaper fascinating and never knew of the historical side.
DeleteImagine that wall paper combined with a sofa in a similar wild pattern and you have my grandmother's living room from the 1950's. Mid-century modern on acid. lol
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your site and I love it. I have always been fascinated by family photos, even of people I don't know. Without saying a word, they speak volumes about the human race.
Isn't it amazing that they never were bothered by all the patterns run amok? Of course today we've gone to the other extreme where design magazines drool over homes with absolutely nothing out of place and no patterns in sight. There's something to be said for grandma's living room on acid.
DeleteGlad you found the place.