Antique wallpaper as inspiration for original mural art design

Vintage hand-made wallpaper never goes out of style. Many antique scenic and chinoiserie wallpaper designs have inspired some recent murals I’ve created. I often get requests to do custom artwork in the style of classic Chinese, French or English hand-painted or block printed murals from companies like Zuber, Dufour and DeGournay. I look to these classic scenic panoramas, fantastical landscapes or chinoiserie panels for examples of the craftsmanship and tradition which lies at the crossroads of decoration and fine-art.

Many of these classic wall coverings have graced the walls of historic homes and other spaces. Originally a less expensive version of hand-woven tapestries, Chinese hand-painted papers were initially brought back to Europe by the East India Trading company in the mid-17th century, and often assembled into larger wall installations. As they became more popular in the 18th century, Chinese artisans were producing hand-painted papers for consumers in England.