Japan or France, ca. 1870-1890. Single sheet, oblong (35.0 x 56.5 cm). Printed on one side.

Large wallpaper sample with embossed leaves, flowers, and birds in gilt and red. Made of strong, thick paper, imitating leather wallpaper. Leather wallpaper is a type of wallpaper used in various styles for wall covering. It is often referred to as wrought leather. It is often gilded, painted, and decorated. Leather was used to cover and decorate sections of walls in the houses of the rich, and some public buildings. Leather is pliable and could be decorated in several ways. Cuir de Cordoue, or cordovan (meaning: "from Córdoba"), sometimes called gold leather (from Dutch "goudleer"), refers to painted and gilded (and often embossed) leather hangings, manufactured in panels, and assembled for covering walls as an alternative to tapestry. Japanese Leather Paper imitates such embossed leather. It is crafted from sheets of handmade paper pressed together. It is then embossed and gilded with the field colour stencilled on it. A coat of lacquer was added to protect it and create a sheen. Introduced in the 1860s as "oil leather papers", later known as "leather paper" (see Wikipedia). They included embossing, gild and painted finishes designed to imitate leather wallpaper and were used to line furniture and cabinets. In the late 19th century, there was a strong growth in demand for such luxury wall coverings, in particular because of faster delivery, more easy applicability, easier adaptability to new design trends, and lower costs. The British firm of Rottman, Strome & Co. became a major source, importing paper manufactured in Yokohama, Japan. This sample is either made in Yokohama or produced by the French firm of Paul Balin, who successfully imitated the Japanese originals and quickly diverted to entirely new and different designs. Edges with some rubbing, creasing, and short tears (one longer, diagonal, ca. 6 cm) and chips; light soiling, but generally in very good condition, the colours bold, strong.