Hand Made Block Printed Wallpaper.

About This Design

This historic wallpaper reproduction recreates an exceptional circa 1750 chinoiserie landscape pattern using traditional domino paper methods unchanged since the mid-Georgian period. La Mirande represents the sophisticated height of early rococo taste, when exotic Eastern-inspired imagery captivated the imagination of fashionable society throughout Britain, France, and the American colonies. These elaborate scenic wallpapers, depicting romanticised Oriental landscapes with pagodas, willow trees, and distant pavilions, adorned the finest reception rooms of the era, transforming domestic interiors into fantastical visions of an imagined Cathay.

The pattern derives its name from La Mirande, the historic hôtel particulier in Avignon where examples of mid-18th-century chinoiserie domino papers have been preserved. This single-block design demonstrates the remarkable artistry Georgian dominotiers achieved through economical printing methods, creating complex visual narratives within the technical constraints of hand-carved pear wood blocks. The pattern’s enduring appeal reflects the period’s fascination with Oriental aesthetics—a taste shared equally by London merchants, Philadelphia society, and the French aristocracy during the 1740s and 1750s.

Hand Made Production Method

Each sheet of this bespoke wallpaper is produced entirely by hand using authentic pre-1830s techniques. The intricate chinoiserie landscape is block printed from a single hand-carved pear wood printing block—a testament to the extraordinary skill of traditional block-cutting. This block is carefully inked with hand-mixed distemper paints, formulated according to historic recipes using natural pigments and animal glue binders that replicate the characteristic matt surface and subtle colour variations of mid-Georgian domino papers.

The printing process employs an oar press, applying precise, controlled pressure to transfer the elaborate design onto individual sheets measuring 66 x 54cm. This sheet-by-sheet hand made production method, unchanged since the Georgian period, ensures each length retains the authentic character and subtle printing irregularities valued in historic wallpapers. The single-block technique, whilst economical by chinoiserie standards, demands exceptional craftsmanship to achieve the pattern’s remarkable detail and visual complexity across multiple impressions.

Historical Context and Authenticity

Chinoiserie wallpapers flourished throughout Georgian Britain, colonial America, and continental Europe during the mid-18th century, reaching their zenith between approximately 1745 and 1765. The exotic imagery appealed to prosperous merchants—from Bristol and Glasgow to Boston and Charleston—who sought to demonstrate sophisticated taste and worldly knowledge through fashionable interior decoration. Original examples discovered in historic houses frequently show these papers adorning principal drawing rooms, best parlours, and formal dining spaces where their dramatic visual impact could be fully appreciated.

La Mirande’s provenance connects directly to the French tradition of papiers de Chine and papiers peints exotiques that influenced British and American dominotiers throughout the period. This historic wallpaper recreation derives from careful study of circa 1750 examples, maintaining both the technical production methods and the aesthetic sensibilities that characterised the most accomplished Georgian domino papers. The commitment to authentic hand made manufacture ensures the wallpaper possesses the distinctive surface quality, colour depth, and visual texture characteristic of genuine mid-Georgian chinoiserie work, whether destined for a period property restoration or a discerning collector’s interior.

Bespoke Specifications and Ordering

This block printed wallpaper is produced to order on individual sheets measuring 66 x 54cm, reflecting the standard crown format paper dimensions of the Georgian period. Pricing is , with a minimum order requirement of Minimum order of 50 sheets covers 17.8m² = £6,000.

All bespoke colour schemes are mixed specifically for each commission to suit your interior requirements. Historic chinoiserie palettes typically employed soft sepia grounds with blue-grey or terre verte detailing, though period-appropriate alternatives including terracotta, warm greys, or muted verdigris can be formulated whilst maintaining authentic distemper paint characteristics. To order a sample, please purchase 1 sheet to assess the pattern scale and production quality. Volume orders exceeding 100 sheets receive a 20% discount, making ambitious projects more economical whilst maintaining uncompromising quality and authenticity.