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As Interesting as Watching Wallpaper Dry?

Turns out, watching wallpaper dry can be quite interesting after all. When watching Cole & Son’s wallpaper, that is.

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01-2019 / Inspiration

What would our world be without the United Kingdom? Vivienne Westwood, The Smiths, James Bond, Mini, Lady Di, Monty Python, Kate Moss, Miss Marple, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and so many more. Can we proclaim ‘Remain!’ at the top of our voice before our time together is up? 

 

The list above is missing one fabulous manufacturer, which we are thrilled to have added to our range last year: Cole & Son from London. This company, founded in 1875, makes tapestries and wallpapers in the traditional way. Their fantastical tapestries and wallpapers adorn manors, palaces, and theaters. Whoever thinks of woodchip when hearing wallpaper – may you receive a light spanking on your behind with a wallpaper pasting brush and keep reading. 

 

Cole & Son holds one of the most extensive collections of block print patterns from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, spanning over 1800 printing blocks and all kinds of styles. Woodblock printing is one of the oldest printing methods and was originally invented and perfected in China – simply put, it works like potato prints

 

Well into the 20th century, wallpapers were an absolute luxury. With the introduction of new manufacturing techniques, wallpapers became accessible to the general public. In the 19th century, the manufacturing process included manually carving the patterns wooden plates from pear tree or sycamore – arranging the patterns in a way that they form a seamless print.

 

The design shown above, “Senza Tempo”, gives an impression of the thrilling new collaboration between Cole & Son and Fornasetti.

The large-format pattern books show the gorgeous designs in all their glory.

Still today, the British manufacturer prints from the original plates, some of them over 100 years old. They used to be stored in clammy basements, but this has thankfully been changed, and the precious original plates are now kept in air conditioned and temperature controlled rooms. 

 

At Cole & Son, a specialized craftsman does the printing. Even with laser focus, they are not able to print more than 100 meters per day. For each swatch, the plate, weighing six kilos, is lifted up and pressed onto the paper with the help of a balance weight. The exact positioning for the next print is then marked discreetly. 

 

This explains the relatively high price for the part of the collection produced with this technique – the result is absolutely worth it, as it is the time-intensive process that makes each piece of wallpaper so unique and valuable. The high-quality release paper is supported by added fiber, making it sturdy and stable to contact with the paste. In fact, the durability of Cole & Son wallpaper is legendary: The wallpaper in the Picadilly Theatre had to be replaced only after 50 years. 

Making 100 meters of wallpaper takes one whole workday.

Not the entire collection is made with this very elaborate technique, Cole & Son also uses screen printing and other techniques. This way, all kinds of designs and effects can be produced: glossy and matte surfaces, metallic effects, reliefs and much more. The designers at Cole & Son have a tremendous archive of designs at their hands. 

 

Besides wood print patterns, there are 350 screen printing patterns and countless original drawings and wallpaper designs in the archive. Gentle Interpretations and new color collections allow the designers to refresh the collections, considering tastes of the current time as much as the original designs. The design spectrum spans very minimalistic, graphic prints to colorful jungle themes with monkeys and birds, hiding between exotic plants.

 

A brand-new collaboration with the Italian company Fornasetti, officially revealed at the London Design Week in March 2019, took the industry by storm with their fantastic prints and colors. We can get a feel for four of these designs at Paris Deco Off. “Senza Tempo” includes 19 designs and showcases the characteristically imaginative Fornasetti imagery – a little whacky, very witty, and ever so distinctively Fornasetti. Well worth seeing (and between you, us, and the windowsill: very trendy!) 

 

This fourth cooperation in Cole & Son’s history adds further jewels to their collection of treasures. To best understand Cole & Son’s designs, their quality, and splendor, we invite you to take a look at their large format sample books – we are looking forward to your visit in our showroom and will be happy to help you find the perfect design for your home or furnishing project. 

The collection "Geometric" consists of abstract prints, colorful and contrasting like in the image above or tone in tone.

FOTOS: © Cole & Son, Julia Rotter/Falkenberg
TEXT: © Falkenberg