Monmouth Historic Inn

ZUBER WALLPAPER

April 23 2014 | News

WALLPAPER IN MONMOUTH’S ENTRANCE HALL- The panoramic wallpaper (designed in 1834) in the front entrance hall at Monmouth was created by French artist Jean Zuber, a very famous French artist.  The wallpaper is entitled Vue de l'Amérique du Nord.  While Zuber never came to America, he painted scenes depicted on this wallpaper from things he heard and read about.  There are some discrepancies in each panel, and it’s fun to watch people locate them.  For instance, the scene that takes place at Boston Harbor has Spanish moss in it, and in another scene Zuber painted little boats going through Niagara Falls.  Obviously, we know that isn’t accurate.  LOL

THE SAME WALLPAPER DESIGN IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE- During the presidency of John F. Kennedy, on the recommendation of historian Henry Francis du Pont, First Lady Jackie Kennedy had an antique copy of this wallpaper installed in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.  Congress later passed a resolution that the wallpaper remain there - so it can still be there today. The wallpaper in the White House had been on the walls of a parlor in the Federal period Jones House in Maryland until 1961 when the house was demolished for a grocery store. Just before the demolition, the wallpaper was salvaged and sold to the White House. AND - The formal dining room at the Old Louisiana Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is also decorated with this wallpaper design.

INFORMATION ON THE DESIGNER- Zuber & Cie, founded as Jean Zuber et Cie, claims to be the last factory in the world to produce woodblock printed wallpapers and furnishing fabrics. Since its founding in 1797 by Jean Zuber, Zuber & Cie has maintained its headquarters at Rixheim, France.  The Frederick Post reported that Jean Zuber's wallpapers were so respected that King Louis Philippe honored him with the Legion of Honor in 1834, the year that Scenic America was printed.  For its production, Zuber & Cie uses woodblocks (more than 100,000) engraved during the 17th 18th, and 19th centuries. Zuber & Cie's panoramic wallpapers also include Eldorado, Hindoustan, les Guerres d'Independence, and Isola Bella. Zuber & Cie has showrooms in Paris and Nice, New York, Los Angeles, London and Dubai.