Project Summary
This project is hosted by: Institute of English Studies
- Research interests:
- History of the book
- Regions:
- Europe, Europe
- Project period:
- 31-Aug-2020 - 29-Feb-2024
- Project categories:
- Research project
- Project summary:
In 1557, a little-known Bavarian entrepreneur named Erasmus Loy transformed the print and book trades. Dozens of his arched brown-red woodcuts were granted a novel form of privilege (precursor of copyright) for their printing technique—covering all future designs. Few survive, but dozens have been identified in the last ten years through architectural conservation in the Alps. From princely palaces to burgher’s homes, these installations explain the prints' unprecedented palettes and shapes: they are not artworks but readymade, paste-on faux-‘intarsia’ panels that imitate the expensive art of inlaid wood, complemented by 'ebony' cut-outs from woodcut book illustrations. In this project, I will undertake primary research in museums, libraries, and architectural heritage sites to reinterpret archival documentation about 'Fladerpapier' (German: 'woodgrainpaper').
In the first substantial study of the topic, I will reveal the first wallpaper 'industry' in the west and how it redefined concepts of intellectual property in early modern northern Europe.
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Management Details
Lead researcher & project contact:
| Name | Position | Institute | Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Elizabeth Savage | Senior Lecturer in Book History and Communications | School of Advanced Study | School of Advanced Study, University of London | elizabeth.savage@sas.ac.uk |
Funding:
| Funder | Grant type | Award |
|---|---|---|
| The British Academy | Small Research Grants | £10,000.00 |