Wallpaper Manufacturers Biography
Wallpaper Manufactured Biography. Founded in 1875 by John Perry, son of a Cambridgeshire vicar, the company – then called John Perry Ltd was originally situated in a wallpaper mill in Islington, North London, an area famous for the 200 hand block printing companies working there in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today Cole’s factory is in Haringey, just a few miles further north of the original site, while the showroom is in the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour.
The company retains the same original spirit in the 21st century with skilled craftsmen, combining traditional processes invented by John Perry on some of the original machinery with the latest modern technology.
The first pattern book in the Cole’s archive dates from 1875 and contains eight hand blocked designs reminiscent of Christopher Dresser’s work. In the 19th century papers were printed for all the large well known companies of the time including Jeffrey & Co, Sanderson and Shand Kydd. In addition to high quality block printing, the company was renowned for supplying stripes and jaspes to the trade. John Perry’s inspiration for jaspe came in France when he saw long lengths of silk thread hung up to dry allowing the dye to run down the length of the fabric to create a streaked effect.
The most historical innovation that John Perry contributed to the wallpaper industry was the creation of a process to imitate silk. Real silk on walls was expensive so he developed an alternative using mica. However, he was not interested in the newest technological developments of the late 19th century to achieve new effects. He built machines in the early 19th century style, especially re-introducing the process of pan coating. He also revived the process of Flocking, invented in Holland in 1680, imitating cut and stamped velvet. This technique is still used in the factory today and has been passed down from master to apprentice. Coles are now the only company in the world producing hand-made flock wallpaper in the traditional way.
Over the years John Perry accumulated a large collection of hand carved wooden printing blocks, acquiring them from old established manufacturers as they closed down. When John Perry died in 1940 his family decided to sell the factory and wooden printing block archive. In 1941 the company was bought by A P Cole, a successful wallpaper merchant who had started his career working for Knowles & Co, a wallpaper and paint company in London’s Kings Road, and then with Albert and Lionel Hill he formed Cole & Hill. After the retirement of Lionel Hill the company became Cole & Son (Wallpapers) Ltd.
The company retains the same original spirit in the 21st century with skilled craftsmen, combining traditional processes invented by John Perry on some of the original machinery with the latest modern technology.
The first pattern book in the Cole’s archive dates from 1875 and contains eight hand blocked designs reminiscent of Christopher Dresser’s work. In the 19th century papers were printed for all the large well known companies of the time including Jeffrey & Co, Sanderson and Shand Kydd. In addition to high quality block printing, the company was renowned for supplying stripes and jaspes to the trade. John Perry’s inspiration for jaspe came in France when he saw long lengths of silk thread hung up to dry allowing the dye to run down the length of the fabric to create a streaked effect.
The most historical innovation that John Perry contributed to the wallpaper industry was the creation of a process to imitate silk. Real silk on walls was expensive so he developed an alternative using mica. However, he was not interested in the newest technological developments of the late 19th century to achieve new effects. He built machines in the early 19th century style, especially re-introducing the process of pan coating. He also revived the process of Flocking, invented in Holland in 1680, imitating cut and stamped velvet. This technique is still used in the factory today and has been passed down from master to apprentice. Coles are now the only company in the world producing hand-made flock wallpaper in the traditional way.
Over the years John Perry accumulated a large collection of hand carved wooden printing blocks, acquiring them from old established manufacturers as they closed down. When John Perry died in 1940 his family decided to sell the factory and wooden printing block archive. In 1941 the company was bought by A P Cole, a successful wallpaper merchant who had started his career working for Knowles & Co, a wallpaper and paint company in London’s Kings Road, and then with Albert and Lionel Hill he formed Cole & Hill. After the retirement of Lionel Hill the company became Cole & Son (Wallpapers) Ltd.
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