Desfossé & Karth, 19th Century Screen, 5 Double-sided Panels, Embossed Wallpaper "cordoba Leather".

Wallpapers, from the 18th to the 19th century, were able, through ingenuity and human engineering, to supplant heavy textile hangings, molded gilded woodwork and expensive embossed leathers, the appearance of which they wonderfully reproduced, the velvety feel, the shine and the material at a lower cost.
The paper, with 2 different patterns, which adorns the front and back of the 5 panels of this superb screen, comes from the presses of the famous Manufacture Jules Desfossé, then associated with Hippolyte Karth from 1864.
This very rare paper is of superb quality, very thick (which was called "leatherboard" at the time), with a strongly marked relief..., and presents no less than NINE different shades, not counting the GOLD shade of the background...: so many passages under the presses...! ...a luxury product!
Two different patterns, imitating Cordoba leathers, adorn the front and back of its five panels: exotic birds and colorful butterflies evolve and nest among the twining vines of a verdant, flowery Eden, bursting with delicious fruits...
The borders are trimmed with braid and threads that were once purple and gold, as well as ornamental brass nails in the corners. Tears and missing parts are to be noted, see photos.
Length = 5 x 49 cm = 245 cm fully unfolded
Height = 150 cm
Template excluding Colissimo or Mondial Relay shipping.