IMPROVED MEANS OR PROCESSES FOR DECORATING OR EM- BELLISHING THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF HOUSES AND OF BUILDINGS GENERALLY, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SHOW TABLETS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Flect Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OR PROCESSES FOR DECORATING OR EM-
BELLISHING THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF HOUSES AND OF BUILDINGS
GENERALLY, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SHOW TABLETS AND THE LIKE." A com-
munication from abroad by Abeilard Lafoy, Alexandre Cottais, and Jules Cesar
Lava, all of 23. Boulevard de Strasbourg. Paris, France.
Sealed the 12th April 1878, and dated the 30th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1877.
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVED MEANS OR PROCESSES FOR
DECORATING OR EMBELLISHING THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF HOUSES AND OF
BUILDINGS GENERALLY, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SHOW TABLETS AND THE LIKE”.
A communication from abroad by Abeilard Lafoy, Alexandre Cottais, and Jules
Cesar Lava, all of 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France.
This Invention has for object a kind of decorative painting in rolls or in
leaves made by hand, or by printing for the imitation of wood, marble, and all
subjects of decoration in general, and destined to be applied, by way of transfer
or impression, to walls and other surfaces, either for the decoration of buildings
or for public advertisements. This kind of decorative painting, when made by hand,
notably for marbles and woods, is prepared in the following manner :- Tracing or
transfer paper has spread upon it a layer of gum arabic, which is left to dry. After
complete dryness, a painting in oil, by hand or mechanically, is effected upon the
layer of gum, so as to imitate wood, marble, or any subject of decoration. This

page_text: painting is effected in the same manner as when done upon the walls, pannels, &c., of
buildings. It is left to dry, and then over the painting is passed a layer of smooth
back ground, the tint of which is more or less deep, according to the nature of the
wood, marble, &c., to be imitated. This is left to dry, and made into rolls in the
ordinary manner of paper hangings, so that it can be applied to the walls, doors,
wainscoting, or other, by paste in the usual manner, by spreading the paste either
upou the walls or upon the layer of back ground, which constitutes the under side
of the rolls of decorative painting. All kinds of paste are good for this application,
such as flour paste, size, glue, or varnish. When this operation is finished, and the
paste or glue is dry, the paper is wetted with a sponge or a brush dipped in water
in such manner as to moisten through the tracing or transfer paper the first layer of
gum arabic, which thus permits of easily raising the paper to leave the painting
bare. The varnishes or wax are then employed in the ordinary manner. In this
manner decorative paintings are obtained which imitato perfectly wood and marble,
and in a very economical manner.
It will be understood that by this method of operation, the painting, when once
applied to the wall, leaves the under side visible, while the surface painted last is
applied to the wall. This may have inconveniences, notably for paintings done in
several tones, say, with colours superposed. For gildings it is indispensable to show
the finished surface touched up, and not the under side of the painting. For that
purpose the process is doubled. The paper is then prepared, with its bed or
foundation of gum, and afterwards of paint. Upon the painting and the layer of
gum is spread then a second sheet of paper. The painting is thus found
enclosed between two sheets of paper. When the second pasted sheet is dry,
the first is damped to moisten the paste, and then lifted. In this state the
paper is ready to be applied. This application to the walls or wainscoting is made,
as has been stated, by spreading any kind of paste or glue upon the wall or upon
the paper to be pasted. When the paste is dry, the paper is damped, and comes off.
The transferred painting is then visible, showing the face which has received the
impression or the final painting. This transfer of the decorating painting from one
paper to another permits of executing artistic marbled paintings, signs, letters, decora-
tions, and embellishments of very beautiful effect, which, when applied, will show the
face last painted.
For gilding, in particular, this transfer is essential; the single process described
would not permit the gilding to be made visible, it would be pasted upon the wall,
while the opposite layer, the "mixtion" or gold size, which the paper touches, would
be visible. The contrary must take place. It is effected by doubling the process,
and by transferring the painting from one paper on to another. If this prepared
gold paper be pasted, and the paper damped, the layer of gold will become visible,.
while the gold size will be invisible.
To make the decorative painting mechanically, recourse is had to printing. Ex-
perience has shown that printing takes badly upon gums, soluble in water, by
reason of the composition of the fatty inks; consequently, the gummed paper has a
varnish (which is insoluble in water, and pure) applied. When this varnish is dry,
the printing is effected in the ordinary manner, the film of varnish serving as a
support, and forming a continuous layer or foundation. The printing is effected
upon varnish in lithography, the writing being right-handed upon the stone, and in
typography with right-hand characters, that is to say, inverse to those generally
employed. When the printing is dry one or more layers of oil painting is made
upon the back of the printing to form the ground of the advertisement or placard
tablet. The painting being dry, the placard may be applied upon any surface
whatever by the process of pasting described.
This new or improved process of decorative painting may be employed to make
chromo-lithographic impressions upon foreign post paper gummed and varnished,
which could be applied to cloth or linen. By damping and removing the glue from
'the paper, there would be a cloth covered with a true layer of painting or printing

page_text: without paper. It would be necessary to take care that the impression of the
superposed colour is in the inverse order to the usual.
Printing with the ordinary characters can be adopted, but then the impression is
reversed. To set right the impression the process is doubled, as for the hand painting,
in the manner above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th April
1878.
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVED MEANS OR PROCESSES
FOR DECORATING OR EMBELLISHING THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF HOUSES AND OF
BUILDINGS GENERALLY, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SHOW TABLETS AND THE LIKE,'
A communication from abroad by Abeilard Lafoy, Alexandre Cottais, and Jules
Cesar Lava, all of 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France.
"
This Invention has for object a kind of decorative painting in rolls or in sheets,
made by hand or by printing, for the imitation of wood, marble, and all subjects of
decoration in general, and destined to be applied, by way of transfer or impression,
to walls and other surfaces, either for the decoration of buildings or for public
advertisements. This kind of decorative painting, when made by hand, notably for
marbles and woods, is prepared in the following manner:-Tracing or transfer paper
has spread upon it a layer of gum arabic, which is left to dry. After complete
dryness, a painting in oil, by hand or mechanically, is effected upon the layer of
gum, so as to imitate wood, marble, or any subject of decoration. This painting is
effected in the same manner as when done upon the walls, panels, or other surfaces
of buildings. It is left to dry, and then over the painting is passed a layer of
smooth back ground, the tint of which is more or less deep, according to the nature
of the wood, marble, or other decoration or devicing to be imitated. The paper thus
prepared is left to dry, and afterwards made into rolls, such as lengths as in the
ordinary manner of paper hangings, so that it can be applied to the walls, doors,
wainscoting, or other surface by paste in the usual manner, by spreading the paste
either upon the walls or upon the layer of back ground, which constitutes the under
side of the rolls of decorative painting. All kinds of paste are good for this
application such as flour paste, size, glue, or varnish. When this is fixed upon a
surface, and the paste or glue is dry, the paper, which is now upon the exterior, is
wetted or damped with a sponge or a brush dipped in water in such manner as to
moisten through the tracing or transfer paper the first layer of gum arabic, which
thus permits of easily raising the paper to leave the painting bare. Varnish or wax
can then be employed in the ordinary manner as a glossy or finishing body. In this
manner decorative paintings are obtained which imitate perfectly wood and marble,
and in a very economical manner.
It will be understood that by this method of operation, the painting, when once
applied to the wall, leaves the under side visible, whilst the surface painted last
is applied to the wall. This may have inconveniences, notably for paintings done
in several tones, say, with colours superposed. For gildings it is indispensable to

page_text: is
show the finished surface-touched up, and not the under side of the painting. For
that purpose the process is doubled. The paper is prepared, with its bed or founda-
tion of gum, and afterwards of paint. Upon the painting and the layer of gum
spread a second sheet of paper. The painting is thus found enclosed between two
sheets of paper.
When the second pasted sheet is dry, the first is damped to
moisten the paste, and then lifted. In this state the paper is ready to be applied.
This application to the walls or wainscoting is made, as has been stated, by
spreading any kind of paste or glue upon the wall or upon the paper to be pasted.
When the paste is dry, the paper is damped and comes off. The transferred painting
is then visible, showing the face which has received the impression or the final
painting. This transfer of the decorative painting from one paper to another
permits of executing artistic marbled paintings, signs, letters, decorations, and em-
bellishments of very beautiful effect, which, when applied, will show the face last
painted.
For gilding, in particular, this transfer is essential; the single process described
would not permit the gilding to be made visible, it would be pasted upon the wall,
while the opposite layer, the "mixtion" or gold size, which the paper touches would
be visible. The contrary must take place. It is effected by doubling the process,
and by transferring the painting from one paper on to another. If this prepared
gold paper be pasted, and the paper damped, the layer of gold will become apparent
while the gold size will be invisible.
To make this decorative painting mechanically, recourse is had to printing. Ex-
perience has shown that printing takes badly upon gums soluble in water, by
reason of the composition of the fatly inks, (consequently, the gummed paper has
applied to it a varnish which is insoluble in pure water,) or mixed with essence
(volatile oil). When this varnish is dry, the printing is effected in the ordinary
manner, the film of varnish serving as a support, and forming a continuous layer or
foundation. The printing is effected upon varnish in lithography, the writing being
right-handed upon the stone, and in typography with right-hand characters, that is
to say, inverse to those generally employed. When the printing is dry, one or more
layers of oil paintings is made upon the back of the printing to form the ground, say
of a placard or tablet. The painting being dry, the placard may be applied upon
any surface whatever by the process of pasting described.
This new or improved process of decorative painting may be employed to make
chromo-lithographic impressions upon foreign post paper, gummed and varnished,
which could be applied to cloth or linen. By damping and removing the paper,
there would be a cloth covered with a true layer of painting or printing
without paper. It would be necessary to take care that the impression of the
superposed colour is in the inverse order to the usual.
Printing with the ordinary characters can be adopted, but then the impression is
feversed. To set right the impression, the process is doubled, as for the hand painting,
in the manner above described.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The application on tracing or transfer paper of a previous coat or layer of
gum arabic.
Secondly. The execution above this coating or layer of well dried gum of the oil
painting, imitating wood, marble, or other decoration, the said painting being
effected by the hand or mechanically.
Thirdly. The laying above the painting thus effected and dried by a smooth first
coating or layer, the tint of which varies according to the woods, marbles, or other
decorations to be reproduced.
Fourthly. The application to walls, panels, and the like of the rolls thus obtained
by a gumming or pasting, followed by the wetting and taking off of the paper, so
as to leave bare the painting, which is then varnished or waxed according to the
process now in use.
Fifthly. The impression, or printing, or decorative painting process described, the

page_text: soluble layer or coating of gum being covered with soluble varnish in water, thus
permitting the printing with fatly inks, this varnish forming a kind of film or thin
skin, without any solution of continuity (unbroken).
Sixthly. The application of this process to impressions of all kinds, typographic,
lithographic, chromo-lithographic, engraved plates in relief or intaglio, types,
embossed, or lace paper called "pochoirs," or stereotype plates in metal or other
materials.
Seventhly. The special application of the double process, with transfer for
marbled, gilt, silvered, or other papers, or printed with ordinary characters or
types.
Eighthly. The application of these paintings or printings on all surfaces of all kinds,
rigid or flexible.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight..
HENRY GARDNER. (L.s.)