Chinese wallpapers were an absolute status symbol among the aristocrats and upper classes. A room or more decorated in ‘China Paper’ was a must in the late 17th century and 18th century. The imported painted Chinese sheets were auctioned in London and were extremely expensive. Each sheet had either exotic flower and bird patterns or scenes of ‘life in China’. Many English stately homes have wonderful rooms decorated with exquisite ‘China papers’ such as: Harewood House, Temple Newsham, Erdig, Chalke Manor and the Chinese Pavilion in Brighton and many more. They all have outstanding exotic China paper rooms. There are tales to tell on how they arrived in the first place.
If you would like more information on the lecturer Hanne Sutcliffe, please click the link to her website here