Four Walls Adorned: Interior Decoration 1485–1820

Originally published in 1952, this book, profusely illustrated, describes the various styles of wall decoration that have been used in England from the time of Henry VII up to the reign of Queen Victoria. The houses illustrated are mainly the smaller English houses where economics of various sorts have been a greater factor in their original decoration than the actual fashions of the time. The ingenuity with which such contemporary fashion has been adapted to the smaller home makes a fascinating study. All forms of contemporary design are discussed: from the single panel and post partition wall of the late 15th century to the fascinating imitation of Classic and Oriental design in the 18th. The book closes with the Industrial Revolution when printed wall papers were manufactured for the millions and the craftsman was no longer required in the smaller home.