By the late 20th Century, original ornamental plasterwork and other surface embellishments of 16th-Century European artisans became a lost art.
However, many of these classical designs and patterns can be re-created with embossed ceiling and wall coverings, called Lincrusta and Anaglypta.
They can be used to simulate an ornate tin ceiling for a period kitchen or hallway, oak paneling, grass matting, linen or cane in a study. The deeply embossed Lincrusta also comes in a selection of elegant friezes ranging from Edwardian to contemporary.
“People like these papers very much,” said interior designer Nancy Smith, owner of Saratoga Signatures in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. “They like the idea of texture and being able to paint it. We’ve even cut shaped designs from the papers to use as a raised panel border. For a unique antique leather look, we enhanced a border with copper nail trim.”
Lincrusta (Greek for lin meaning linium or flat and crusta meaning relief) is used as a replica for patterns and designs that were once the hallmark of great wealth, such as ornate plasterwork, carved wood and cordovan leather. In time, the coverings became a way to bring elegance to the homes of the middle class, by applying decorative dados (chair-rail height) and cornice borders.
Because of its raised surface, the embossed medium-weight paper called Anaglypta (Greek for ana meaning raised and glypta meaning cameo) affords a practical way to hide small plaster bulges and other problem spots in old houses.
Lincrusta was once used to decorate the outside of Pullman cars, but because of the high cost, it is mostly used today as a border or frieze. Lincrusta, which is a compound of linseed oil and putty, similar to linoleum, retails for approximately $30 to $150 per double roll, which weighs more than 30 pounds.
Both of these versatile wall coverings are white and invite painting. Made in England for more than 100 years and distributed by Crown Decorative Products Ltd., they are widely available here in many paint, wallpaper and home improvement stores.
“These coverings are so versatile, because you can custom coordinate them to any color decor,” said decorating expert Pat Niehaus of Indiana, who is professionally known as “The Wall Doctor.”
“If you go into a wallpaper store and want to match a current paper to furnishings that you’ve had for years, you may not find a perfect match, because wallpaper manufacturers are always changing their color ways, and to have a custom wallpaper made up is very, very costly.
“With Lincrusta and Anaglypta, all you have to do is apply a new coat of paint each time you redecorate,” Niehaus said.
“Anaglypta was conceived of in England by J.J. Palmer in 1887, about 10 years after Frederick Walton created Lincrusta,” explained Aine McDonagh, a spokeswoman for Crown Decorative Products in Darwen, Lancashire, England.
“Walton’s father was the inventor of linoleum,” added McDonagh. “These products, which replicate historic patterns, were used in many 19th-Century mansions. They regained popularity stateside in the 1970s with the wave of restoration in Victorian neighborhoods. But many of the patterns fit contemporary homes as well.”
Both coverings are not only popular in period homes, but also in the film industry’s set designs, such as in Tom Cruise’s office in “The Firm,” and Kevin Costner’s farmhouse in “Field of Dreams,” according to McDonagh.
Anaglypta, which comes in more than 100 patterns, is ideal for ceilings because it’s relatively lightweight, making it easy to hang.
There are other spinoffs of these coverings on the market, according to Deanna Ford, an interior designer with Miller Paints in Albany.
“The Lincrusta and Anaglypta coverings are very popular with people seeking a rich, decorative look,” Ford said. “We also carry two or three other books of coverings in this style. I stock four different patterns at this time in a paper equal to the weight of the Anaglypta and about the same price at $15.98 a double roll.
“There is a stucco texture, faux tin pattern, contemporary herringbone and a striate pattern,” Ford said. “People who own apartments tend to choose from the four open stock patterns, because you don’t have to paint them. They come pre-colored. They use them to mainly cover up problem walls and ceilings.”
Unlike plaster, there’s no sanding involved with any of these textured coverings.
“Even though the Lincrusta surface is white, you must wipe it down with mineral spirits because there’s a linseed residual,” advised Niehaus. “You must also use an oil-based primer with the Lincrusta before painting it with a latex paint. The paint wouldn’t adhere otherwise.”
“You must use a latex base-coat primer with the Anaglypta,” added Niehaus. “Because of the cotton and paper pulp of the paper. Never use an oil-based primer, otherwise the oil will raise the grain on the outside surface of the paper. If that happened and you tried to sand the surface smooth, it would ruin it.”
You also have to take time when installing Anaglypta and Lincrusta.
“The biggest problem is that people don’t follow the instructions to a T, said Niehaus. “They try to take shortcuts. The wall must be properly prepped, measurements must be precise. If done right it will last a lifetime. I’ve seen Lincrusta on walls that has been there for more than 100 years.”
