The recent cold dark evenings have not inspired as much paint-stripping as usual, especially as the rain, frustratingly, continues to get in through our garage roof
But, while the cold keeps me indoors more than normal, I can curl up on the sofa with ‘Bitten by Witch Fever’, a book which can only be described as very tasteful Victorian wallpaper porn
The book looks at the effect of the use of arsenic in papers, considerably widening the range of colours available. Opinion at the time was apparently divided between people who considered it terribly detrimental to the health to have such chemicals in their homes, and those who believed – rightly or wrongly – that it was only dangerous if they licked the wallpaper
All the papers featured are catalogued with dates and manufacturers, many English but also some French
This book has made me re-think how I currently strip the paper in France. Until now I have not been wearing a mask or gloves, but I probably should protect myself from any possible ‘nasties’
And I am still trying to find information on this wonderful, if fragile, scenic paper in our salon
This last picture (below) is a wall of the chapel at the fabulous Royal Holloway College in Egham, completed in 1886
I admit, I could barely keep from licking it!
Poshbird with Passion 
I’m such a woose, I admit I have been wearing mask and gloves and goggles for everything in our house, including stripping wallpaper and paint ‘just in case’ ….. the book is totally covetable and I hope you find the answers to your salon paper some day …
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Delectable post 🙂
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Arsenic! Who knew! I take it the book uses photos and not samples.
Are you able to preserve that scenic paper?
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I have to find a way. I have searched google but found no useful advice. I am hoping for a EUREKA moment but for the moment I cannot bring myself to simply destroy it, so progress is halted!
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The owners of this château did it: http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/2017/01/19/vt-wonen/
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Unfortunately this particular paper has been papered over at least 5 times, and is incredibly fragile, so it won’t quite work like that lovely photo. Beautiful site though, thank you
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What a gorgeous book – perhaps you could content yourself with giving those pages a lick now and again.
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Amazing book. It’s probably best that I don’t own a copy, but I really appreciate the peek in yours.
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I know, we are rash restorers aren’t we? It took years for me to realise that I had probably been cheerfully rubbing back lead based paint, toxic varnishes and possibly asbestos tiles!!!
I have to admit that , days after our last meeting, I realised that the door project you were stripping in the “salon” might have been lead painted!
I want to see that book. But I doubt it contains anything as stunning as that paper you have with the glorious Canalettoesque landscape vignettes …
A lot of love has been lavished on your French house historically and it is absolutely right and fitting that fate found you to love it back to life.
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What an incredible book, I love that final photo. I wouldn’t even have thought of wearing a mask or gloves to strip wallpaper, but if it’s old I can see it really does make sense, thanks for the good advice, not that we have any to strip, but one never knows, one day in the future perhaps. Stay warm xx
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