The great wallpaper of China

Above: Harewood's Chinese wallpaper

Above: Harewood's Chinese wallpaper makes harvesting look like a hoot

Above: Adding touches of colour to revitalise the recently rediscovered Chinese wallpaper

Above: Hanging the paper in the East Bedroom

It soon became apparent however that this seemingly inconsequential find was actually very significant indeed. When the country’s foremost historic wallpaper conservator Allyson McDermott was called in, she didn’t mince her words, declaring the time-worn sheets as: ‘One of the finest examples of Chinese wallpaper anywhere in the world.’ The hand-painted paper, which tells four separate stories featuring tea, rice, silk and porcelain, was first hung at Harewood in 1769. ‘Chinese wallpaper was very popular in ladies’ rooms and guest bedrooms – but only for the very best guests,’ explained curator Melissa Gallimore. ‘This one was on the walls of the Chintz Bedroom, which was for very honoured guests, second only to the State Bedroom. ‘It was taken down in the early 19th century, when it would have been regarded as quite old fashioned.’ And that’s when it ended up in the carpenter’s workshop, where it stayed for decades gathering dust, forgotten and uncared for. When it finally emerged again it was dirty but still in remarkably good condition. The quality of the paper meant it had retained virtually all of its colour and vivid pigmentation – all it needed was a bit of careful cleaning. ‘It sounds simplistic, but basically it was cleaned with good old fashioned water,’ said Melissa. ‘It was a nerve-wracking moment though when the water was first applied. I couldn’t help thinking that the paint would simply wash away. But, thankfully, the paper stood up to the cleaning process amazingly well.’ Each individually painted figure on the 20 sheets is unique, and there are no repetitions in pattern across the entire span. Every scene tells its own story, creating a stunning whole that brings to life a romanticised western view of Chinese life. ‘It’s an idealistic view of the Chinese rice, tea, silk and porcelain industries,’ said Melissa. ‘It paints a very pretty, idyllic picture of what would actually have been a very hard life. Everybody looks happy in the scenes – even the water buffalo.’ The paper is now back where it belongs – on the wall. The appropriately-named East Bedroom at Harewood House is now resplendent; a beautiful homage to Chinese culture. Green Chinese furniture originally designed and made by Chippendale to compliment the wallpaper is back in place, and the four-poster bed and windows have been swathed in startling gold and green chintz. ‘It’s interesting to see people’s reaction to the room,’ said Melissa. ‘It’s very different from 21st century notions of taste. The colourful chintz, highly patterned furniture and busy wallpaper jar with modern tastes. It’s beautiful but controversial – that’s no bad thing though.’ Visitors to Harewood House can now see the East Bedroom in all its glory, accompanied by an exhibition of chinoiserie, a seven-minute film about the rediscovery of the wallpaper and various touch-screen displays to keep the kids happy (and their fingers well away from the paper). The East Bedroom is expected to be a big draw, and queues are likely as visitors take their time soaking up all the individual scenes and following the stories from one corner of the room to the next. But, after seeing it every day, does the paper still hold any mysteries for Melissa? ‘I keep having to come back to the room again and again because it’s always such a surprise,’ she said. ‘I see different things every time; different people and different scenes. It tells a different story every time you see it.’ And does she have a favourite scene – something that draws her back again and again? ‘My favourite part of the wallpaper shows monkeys climbing rocks to pick tea reserved for the emperor,’ she said, pointing to a small scene near the ceiling. ‘It’s easily missed, but it’s well worth searching out.’ To find out more about Harewood House and its numerous attractions, phone the 24-hour information line on 0113 218 1003 or click on www.harewood.org.