The History of Wallpaper: The Stories Behind the Patterns

Behind every pattern is a history worth uncovering.

• 

• 

• 

We recently introduced our History of Wallpaper series on Instagram to explore the materials, techniques, and historical influences behind the patterns that surround us. At LEEP Pattern House, research is an essential part of our approach to design. With my background in architecture and historic preservation, I’m interested not only in the patterns themselves, but in how they were made, the materials behind them, and the science that connects craftsmanship, ornament, and design.

As we’ve worked through the first four episodes, we’ve discovered just how much there is to explore. Our most recent episode focused on chintz, which began as a type of Indian cotton textile, often glazed or wax-finished, rather than simply the decorative pattern we recognize today. Understanding the material and the techniques behind it is precisely the kind of research that appeals to me as a preservationist. There is a science behind historical design, and understanding it opens up a much richer story.

For this episode, I visited Jefferson Market Library in Greenwich Village, my neighborhood library and a historic landmark in its own right, to continue researching the subject. What began as preparation for an Instagram series has become a source of inspiration for our own work, encouraging us to look more closely at the historical traditions that inform our design sensibility.

I’m currently reading about Walter Crane and the Arts and Crafts movement, exploring ideas about ornament, nature, and decorative design that resonate with LEEP Pattern House. The more we learn, the more connections we find between historic interiors and the patterns we create today.

We’re only at the beginning of this exploration, and we look forward to sharing more discoveries as the series continues. Follow along.

To continue exploring: Browse our recommended reading list →