Lincrusta wall covering at the Morgan House

Lincrusta is a permanent wall covering made of a pulp of linseed oil mixed with sawdust, plant resin, chalk, zinc oxide and a colored dye. This pulp is applied to a paper base and then passed between two rollers, one which is engraved with the pattern, creating a design in relief. Lincrusta was invented by Frederick Walton in 1877 as a way to emulate the more expensive decorative plaster effects of carved wood paneling, tiles and tooled leather which were popular wall treatments during the late Victorian era. Designed to stand the test of time, Lincrusta actually gets harder with age.

Hand-painted Anaglypta at the Morgan House

Anaglypta is a lightweight embossed wall covering made from cotton pulp that is hand-painted. It was invented by Thomas Palmer a decade after Lincrusta.

In addition to the wall coverings, the elegance of stenciling and hand painted ceilings is in the process of being restored and preserved.

Restored stenciling next to the original