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Members-only event: exclusive visit to Marthe Armitage's studio and showroom

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WHS members are invited to join us for a tour of the studio and showroom of Marthe Armitage, now managed by her daughter, Jo Broadhurst.

Marthe Armitage is a renowned British wallpaper designer whose work is characterised by unique hand-drawn designs that are hand printed from lino blocks. Her daughter Jo Broadhurst now runs the studio where they design textiles as well as wallpapers.

Members have already received notice of this event but can also obtain information from membership@wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk

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Get your diaries out! The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) museum is planning an exciting new wallpaper exhibition for 2025. Thanks to curator Emily Banas for sending us this information.​

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A talk by David Skinner.

Houses have both a history and a memory. Their memory is imprinted on interior surfaces and objects and sustained through oral history. Ireland's heritage of vernacular rural houses is threatened both by neglect and the needs of twenty-first century living. Find out more and book here

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Embossed wallpapers such as Lincrusta have been popular since the late nineteenth century, and they continue to sell well today. Lincrusta was popular with Victorians for its durability and hygienic qualities, and could be made to imitate other materials such as plaster, wood and leather.

Find out more and book here

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Join us for a special visit to Insole Court in Cardiff, a Grade II* listed mansion house, with a special series of wallpaper-related events between 10am and 12. This will include an illustrated talk by one of Insole Court’s researchers about the wallpapers found in the house, including new findings and interpretation progressed subsequent to the analysis of Cowtan Order Books by Dr Wendy Andrews. Find out more and book here...

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Applications are now open for the Merryl Huxtable Prize 2024. This bursary, offered by the Wallpaper History Society, supports historical research and/or developments in the conservation of wallcoverings. The bursary prize is offered in memory of Merryl Huxtable, a founder member of the WHS and pioneer in the field of wallpaper conservation. The deadline for applications has been extended to August 31st 2023

 

Please see our Bursary page for more details and to learn about previous recipients of the award.

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In this talk, Bo will transport us back to the year 1907 for a look at the experience of shopping for wallpaper during the Arts & Crafts era in America. From wallpaper's design, production and distribution through how the latest style trends were served up and sold, this journey will be a visual feast for anyone with a hunger for the delights of wallpaper history. Find out more...

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Open House is a project that connects life lived in front of the wallpaper with the 10,000 wall coverings looked after at the Whitworth. 

Wallpapers began arriving at the Whitworth in 1967 and today we house a collection of around 10,000 examples. Some of these are luxurious, beautiful, old and hand-printed, but most are the cheap and cheerful output of factories that gave remnants to museums after ceasing production. Read more...

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Since the National Trust opened the house to the public in the 1990s, its priority has been to make the space welcoming and attractive for visitors, and to connect its activities to the local population in Hackney. It’s not surprising then, that wallpaper conservation was low on the agenda for many years. But a recent project lead by Nicola Walker and Phillippa Mapes to uncover and conserve wallpapers in one specific room has revealed new stories about the building and how it was used in different ways over time. Read more...

Catherine Sidwell

We are delighted to welcome Catherine Sidwell as our speaker at this year's Wallpaper History Society AGM. Catherine's talk will focus on C.F.A. Voysey’s frequent depiction of birds in his wallpaper designs and why he chose to do so. Find out more...

Rose Sinclair on Althea McNish 'Colour is Mine' talk Tues July 26th, 2022

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Rose Sinclair talks about Althea McNish, subject of a major retrospective "Colour is Mine" now on show at the William Morris Gallery. Read more and book here...

Althea McNish: 'Colour is Mine' at the William Morris Gallery

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The William Morris Gallery displays the life and work of the radical Victorian designer, craftsman and campaigner, William Morris, and explores his continuing relevance today. Read more...

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It is with great sadness that the Wallpaper History Society shares the news that founder member Christine Woods has died. 

Christine was a friend to many of us, encouraging our interest in all things wallpaper, whilst setting the highest standards in research and reporting discoveries. We will miss her, but know that the work she championed continues, and memories of her sense of humour will still raise a smile

Read a full tribute to Christine

Flora Roberts online talk June 23rd, 2022

Flora Roberts WHS online talk

Wallpaper designer Flora Roberts shares details of her inspiration and the printing techniques she uses to create her beautiful papers. Wallpaper designer Flora Roberts has worked for Lewis & Wood, Sandersons, Zoffany, GP & J Baker and Mulberry Home. She recently launched her own collection of wallpapers exclusively available at Hamilton Weston Ltd. In this talk Flora will talk about how she uses hand painting techniques to create floral designs inspired by historic houses and gardens. She will discuss her use of contemporary printing techniques which can either make the printed wallpaper look similar to the original artwork or take it in a new direction. Find out more and book

A visit to ‘The Art of Wallpaper - Morris & Co’ at Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh

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This exhibition, curated by Mary Schoeser and supported by ample material from the Sanderson Design Group Archive, looks at the history and development of the Morris & Co brand. It includes works by artists who designed for Morris & Co, but who are frequently less well-acknowledged. Read more...

Wallpaper collector Frank Cassata opens up his fabulous collection to WHS 

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Former architect and interior designer Frank Cassata fell in love with vintage textiles early on in his career and was soon seeking out swatch books from across the globe...Read more


Frank Cassata WHS Online talk Thursday, May 5, 2022.   7:00 PM – 8:00 PM BST  

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The Art of Wallpaper, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh 28th January - 11th June 2022

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The popularity of William Morris endures to this day with so many homes still displaying his vibrant wallpapers replete with English flora and bird life fashioned into stylised patterns reflective of the principles of honest design that drove the Arts and Crafts movement. Now a new exhibition explores the work of the man ... Read more

Clare Taylor's 2021 AGM presentation 
'The Flock Trail: Two Hundred Years of Colour, Pattern and Texture'

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Following the AGM there was an opportunity to hear Clare Taylor deliver a talk on ‘The Flock Trail: Two Hundred Years of Colour, Pattern and Texture’. Clare’s expertise in this area is well known and the audience was fascinated to learn about the origins, making and hanging of flock paper.... Read more

2021 AGM takes place on Zoom

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Members from across the world joined together for the WHS AGM on 10th December 2021, which for the first time took place on Zoom. Although we missed seeing each other and sharing food at the Art Workers’ Guild in London, our normal venue, meeting online allowed many more members to attend.... Read more

Exclusive Member-only virtual tour of Jane Austen's House

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Our online event, 'Jane Austen's House' provided a tailored tour of the house and a fascinating insight into the home life of the author, as well as a lively discussion on the wallpapers found. Read more...

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'Tales From the Parsonage: Wallpaper and Vicarage Life 1790-1850'

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Society Members enjoyed a fascinating and entertaining online presentation by Rowena Beighton-Dykes as she shared some of her research into the buying habits and decorative choices of the clergy

Read more ...

Instagram account reaches over 5000 followers

Rowena Beighton-Dykes

The Society's Instagram account, run by Rowena Beighton-Dykes, posts regularly and now has more than 5000 followers. If you're missing out, find us on @wallpaperhistsoc

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