Decorative details WALLPAPERS

ecorative wall features are nothing new. From the murals and frescoes of the ancient world, through the Renaissance, man has decorated walls with all manner of paint effects, tapestry, silk and leather. The use of ‘leather wallpaper’ or ‘gold leather’ became popular in the mid-17th century, and embossed, gilded and painted leather can often be seen in country houses, either used as panelling or on seating and screens. A centre for this luxurious and expensive product was Córdoba, in Spain, and the wonderfully exotic designs often reflect fabric patterns of the period. However, by the middle of the 18th century, had largely fallen out of fashion, mainly due to the arrival of wallpaper – a cheaper, more