This lovely geometric pattern was printed by Moses
Grant Jr. and was found in the 2nd Harrison Gray Otis House, designed
by Charles Bulfinch and built on Beacon Hill about 1800. The Otis's
moved from this house about 1806 and the paper was probably installed
by Mrs. George Gibbs, a wealthy Newport widow, shortly after she bought
the house in 1810.
The somewhat abstract, geometric Harlequin styles
were popularized by the French about 1800; American printers, emulating
the latest French fashion, printed many of these harlequin patterns
from 1800-1820. The harlequin effect is achieved by splitting motifs
symmetrically and printing each half into a contrasting color.
This pattern is licensed to Adelphi Paper Hangings
by Historic New England.
Repeat 111⁄8 inches
Width 21¾ inches
Straight Match
The historic colorway image above shows
two widths of the
pattern installed. Alternate colorway images show one
complete width of the pattern.