Page 25 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles Januray 2020
P. 25
Whether the effect you’re
after is Mid-Century
Modern or Sputnik
there’s a pattern that will
set the right tone for your
favorite 50s room.
1950s Gee Gee 1950s Atomic Doodle 1950s Googieland 1950s Interlock
a great way to go if you can find what you’re looking for and it’s a good the “best parts” version of the pattern is used for any final print. Also,
fit for your historic home. since the paper used to print on is new paper stock, it’s pliable and, when
The challenges posed by old rolls of paper can be many. One, for wet, slightly flexible, making it easier to hang than a paper that has aged
example, is the finite quantity that may be available. For instance, a for decades. The pigments are also bright and long-lasting, and the papers
retailer may have 10 old rolls in stock of the same pattern, but the
can be wiped with a damp cloth without any fear of smudges or damage.
customer may need 12. Those few rolls may also be from different runs, Also, since so many good retro interiors include retro fabrics as well as
so even if the quantity is there, the colors may not truly match when hung wallpapers, Bradbury & Bradbury has partnered with Spoonflower, a
edge to edge. fabric printing company out of Durham,
Another problem can arise with old stock is North Carolina, to have some of the vintage
the condition of the available rolls. Sometimes patterns available on a variety of different
due to age, or excess exposure to heat, humidity fabrics suitable for everything from upholstery
and/or ultraviolet light, the roll stock will to curtains and tablecloths.
degrade or become brittle, making just the act
of unrolling it difficult, resulting in tears or The Market for Vintage
kinks in the roll.
Lastly, the pigments used can make working Vintage style wallpaper is not just for
with the paper difficult. For instance, some old residential use. It is sought-after by professional
inks were not waterfast, so they will smear if designers, project managers, and architects
soaked at all while hanging. They may also be when they need beautiful, authentic wall-
prone to fade or specific colors may become coverings for their larger-scale projects. Often,
fugitive, fading faster than others in the they will adorn countless hotels, restaurants,
pattern, discoloring it. Vintage patterns on a variety of different fabrics as presentation backgrounds for museum
Even with all the possible problems, if you can find what you want installations, and even used on film sets. You
and it’s in great shape, use it. But this innovative line of vintage wallpa- may never look at the background of television shows or movies set in the
company’s
pers came about in response to the 20th century the same again.
interest in preserving patterns and remaining authentic, to providing But the market is markedly stronger in the direct-to-homeowner sales
vintage wallpaper to customers who wanted the period look and feel of – much to the surprise of the company. The papers really seem to
original vintage wallpapers. resonate with them in terms of fitting the period and style of their homes
without a “modern” or “contemporary” take. They also strike a nostalgic
chord with many who recall similar patterns in the homes of parents and
The Process grandparents growing up.
By introducing this new collection, Bradbury hopes to provide The focus of Bradbury & Bradbury has always been to bring back
customers with a solution to searching for accuracy in the designing of from the past some of the great pattern designs that might have been in
their space. These new “vintage” wallpapers are reproduced faithfully danger of disappearing otherwise. It’s gratifying to see the humble
from many of the old patterns kept in the historic archives, so they are medium of wallpaper elevated to the level of art, and preserving designs
true to the era. They look just like the originals. that had been lost to the past is just one way of doing that. It’s wonderful
to see rooms that existed long ago recreated, and thoroughly enjoyed by
The process of reproduction is simple really. After one of these
original patterns are scanned, any damage or undesirable imperfections in someone, all over again. That’s always been the mission.
the prints are carefully “repaired” and colors restored if necessary so that Title Image: Nouveau in “sea of green” from the 1960s category
Talking ‘bout that generation, that turbulent era, emerging from the
conservative prosperity of the 1950s and soon ushering in civil rights
demonstrations, flower children and man’s journey to the moon.
This energetic collection of patterns mirrors some of the radical shifts
in graphic design that also sprung out of those tumultuous times.
1960s Daisy in Sunshine 1960s Reverb in Moody Blue 1960s Now What? in Purple Haze 1960s Grete in Earth Green
January 2020 23
after is Mid-Century
Modern or Sputnik
there’s a pattern that will
set the right tone for your
favorite 50s room.
1950s Gee Gee 1950s Atomic Doodle 1950s Googieland 1950s Interlock
a great way to go if you can find what you’re looking for and it’s a good the “best parts” version of the pattern is used for any final print. Also,
fit for your historic home. since the paper used to print on is new paper stock, it’s pliable and, when
The challenges posed by old rolls of paper can be many. One, for wet, slightly flexible, making it easier to hang than a paper that has aged
example, is the finite quantity that may be available. For instance, a for decades. The pigments are also bright and long-lasting, and the papers
retailer may have 10 old rolls in stock of the same pattern, but the
can be wiped with a damp cloth without any fear of smudges or damage.
customer may need 12. Those few rolls may also be from different runs, Also, since so many good retro interiors include retro fabrics as well as
so even if the quantity is there, the colors may not truly match when hung wallpapers, Bradbury & Bradbury has partnered with Spoonflower, a
edge to edge. fabric printing company out of Durham,
Another problem can arise with old stock is North Carolina, to have some of the vintage
the condition of the available rolls. Sometimes patterns available on a variety of different
due to age, or excess exposure to heat, humidity fabrics suitable for everything from upholstery
and/or ultraviolet light, the roll stock will to curtains and tablecloths.
degrade or become brittle, making just the act
of unrolling it difficult, resulting in tears or The Market for Vintage
kinks in the roll.
Lastly, the pigments used can make working Vintage style wallpaper is not just for
with the paper difficult. For instance, some old residential use. It is sought-after by professional
inks were not waterfast, so they will smear if designers, project managers, and architects
soaked at all while hanging. They may also be when they need beautiful, authentic wall-
prone to fade or specific colors may become coverings for their larger-scale projects. Often,
fugitive, fading faster than others in the they will adorn countless hotels, restaurants,
pattern, discoloring it. Vintage patterns on a variety of different fabrics as presentation backgrounds for museum
Even with all the possible problems, if you can find what you want installations, and even used on film sets. You
and it’s in great shape, use it. But this innovative line of vintage wallpa- may never look at the background of television shows or movies set in the
company’s
pers came about in response to the 20th century the same again.
interest in preserving patterns and remaining authentic, to providing But the market is markedly stronger in the direct-to-homeowner sales
vintage wallpaper to customers who wanted the period look and feel of – much to the surprise of the company. The papers really seem to
original vintage wallpapers. resonate with them in terms of fitting the period and style of their homes
without a “modern” or “contemporary” take. They also strike a nostalgic
chord with many who recall similar patterns in the homes of parents and
The Process grandparents growing up.
By introducing this new collection, Bradbury hopes to provide The focus of Bradbury & Bradbury has always been to bring back
customers with a solution to searching for accuracy in the designing of from the past some of the great pattern designs that might have been in
their space. These new “vintage” wallpapers are reproduced faithfully danger of disappearing otherwise. It’s gratifying to see the humble
from many of the old patterns kept in the historic archives, so they are medium of wallpaper elevated to the level of art, and preserving designs
true to the era. They look just like the originals. that had been lost to the past is just one way of doing that. It’s wonderful
to see rooms that existed long ago recreated, and thoroughly enjoyed by
The process of reproduction is simple really. After one of these
original patterns are scanned, any damage or undesirable imperfections in someone, all over again. That’s always been the mission.
the prints are carefully “repaired” and colors restored if necessary so that Title Image: Nouveau in “sea of green” from the 1960s category
Talking ‘bout that generation, that turbulent era, emerging from the
conservative prosperity of the 1950s and soon ushering in civil rights
demonstrations, flower children and man’s journey to the moon.
This energetic collection of patterns mirrors some of the radical shifts
in graphic design that also sprung out of those tumultuous times.
1960s Daisy in Sunshine 1960s Reverb in Moody Blue 1960s Now What? in Purple Haze 1960s Grete in Earth Green
January 2020 23
