Painted Paper at Attingham Park, c. 1807

Click on these links, you'll be glad you did!

The Curator for Attingham Park, Sarah Kay, has announced that a project reviving an 1807 decorative scheme on paper associated with John Nash has been completed. The paper used is "elephant", the standard 22" x 28" often used for paper-hangings.

This combination of conservation, restoration and re-creation has taken about 11 years including research, analysis and work. It was done as a conservation-in-action project in front of the house's visitors while explaining the complexities of the work. 

They have filmed the process and have produced a half-hour documentary, plus 3 short introductory films about different aspects of the scheme. The short films are on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWPSGurTq5M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnqFofF6HuE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAzl1XM9yxY&feature=related

The main web site for Attingham Park, which is a property of the National Trust, is HERE.

Pamela Simpson Dies at 65

Dr. Pamela H. Simpson, author of "Cheap Quick & Easy: Imitative Architectural Materials" died on   Oct. 4 from cancer at the age of 65.

Her article about embossed wall coverings around 1900 was published by the Wallpaper History Society in their 1996/1997 Review.

Her first book was “The Architecture of Historic Lexington,” which she co-authored with Royster Lyle Jr.. It was published in 1979 and remains an important resource for understanding and appreciating the  historic buildings of Lexington, Kentucky. Her completed manuscript, “Corn Palaces and Butter Queens: The History of Crop Art and Dairy Sculpture,” will be published by the University of Minnesota Press.

A link to a news article about Dr. Simpson is here.