ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Victorian Wallpaper as Status Symbol at Fabric Workshop and Museum

exhibition · 2026-04-24

The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia presented an exhibition from May 9 to September 13, 2003, examining Victorian wallpaper as a status symbol for the 19th-century bourgeoisie. The densely packed, richly colored wallpapers coincided with the apex of mechanical reproduction, and their machine-made quality influenced English designers.

Key facts

  • Exhibition at Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia
  • Dates: May 9 to September 13, 2003
  • Victorian wallpaper used as status symbol by 19th-century bourgeoisie
  • Wallpapers were densely packed and richly colored
  • Heyday of wallpaper coincided with apex of mechanical reproduction
  • Machine-made quality influenced English designers

Entities

Institutions

  • Fabric Workshop and Museum

Locations

  • Philadelphia
  • United States

Sources