Edwardian Wall Decor
Edwardian wall decor encompasses framed prints, mirrors, barometers, and taxidermy mounts that bring period character to interior spaces.
Edwardian Wall Decor
Edwardian wall decor covers a diverse selection of hanging objects spanning oil paintings, watercolours, wall mirrors, barometers, and taxidermy mounts. Pieces originate primarily from the Edwardian era alongside adjacent Victorian and early 20th century periods, reflecting varied domestic and commercial interior tastes.
Mirrors form a prominent category, particularly oval wall mirrors featuring gesso decoration or Chinoiserie motifs. Other frequent items include maritime paintings, commemorative plaques, copper and plaster relief panels, and animal trophies.
The selection ranges from delicate framed portraits and botanical engravings to substantial shop signs, dinner gongs, and aircraft propellers adapted for display. This variety allows buyers to source items suited to both traditional room settings and eclectic gallery walls.
Materials and Techniques
Metals such as brass, copper, iron, and bronze appear in relief plaques, coat hooks, barometer fittings, and ship plaques, often shaped through casting or hand-beating. Taxidermy mounts combine animal specimens with wooden shields or iron structural supports.
Paper and card support lithographs, engravings, chalk drawings, and mixed media works, while canvas serves as the base for traditional oil paintings. Plaster and ceramic tiles provide the medium for polychrome relief plaques.
Materials recorded across the selection include paper, wood, oak, brass, copper, glass, horn, and gold leaf.
Markers of Distinction
Quality rests upon the crispness of execution in carved wood, moulded gesso, and cast metalwork, where fine detailing elevates standard decorative items. Painted works demonstrate skill through brushwork control, compositional balance, and the preservation of original pigment.
Taxidermy pieces depend heavily on historical taxidermy skill, anatomical proportion, and the secure mounting of horns or trophies to sturdy wooden bases. Frame integrity and the retention of original gilding or surface finishes significantly influence overall merit.
George Rankin·Sherwin & Cotton·Charles Edward Wilson·Cecil Charles Windsor Aldin·Arthur Hacker·William Langley·Edward Gerrard & Sons
The Edwardian Wall Decor Glossary
- Chinoiserie
- European interpretation of Chinese and East Asian artistic traditions, frequently expressed through motifs on lacquer or gesso mirrors.
- Gesso
- Plaster-based material applied to wood frames and moulded into decorative reliefs before gilding or painting.
- Taxidermy mount
- Preserved animal skin or horns mounted on a wooden plaque or form for wall display.
- Barometer
- Scientific instrument housed in wood or metal casing designed to measure atmospheric pressure.
- Relief plaque
- Wall panel with sculptural figures projecting from a flat background, cast in plaster, copper, or ceramic.
Edwardian Wall Decor: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Edwardian wall decor?
Edwardian wall decor comprises hanging objects produced during the early twentieth century, including mirrors, paintings, barometers, and plaques.
These pieces reflect the decorative preferences of the period, combining traditional craftsmanship with diverse materials like brass, wood, glass, and plaster.
How do I hang heavy wall decor safely?
Heavy items such as cast iron plaques, large mirrors, and taxidermy mounts require secure fixing directly into wall studs or appropriate masonry anchors.
Checking the weight distribution and using rated picture wire or brackets ensures the piece remains secure over time.
How do I distinguish Edwardian from Victorian items?
Edwardian pieces often feature lighter frames, brighter colour palettes, and simplified forms compared to the heavier, ornate styles typical of the Victorian era.
Chinoiserie influences and Arts and Crafts simplicity frequently characterise Edwardian decorative arts.
How do I clean antique mirrors and frames?
Gilded gesso and wooden frames require gentle dusting with a soft brush to protect fragile surface finishes and applied ornamentation.
Glass surfaces can be cleaned with a mild glass cleaner applied to a cloth rather than sprayed directly onto the glass.