While the wallpaper sample was tiny, it was large enough to reveal that the Madisons had a flocked-red wallpaper in the room. Flocked wallpaper was a velvety-looking paper made by sprinkling short wool fibers in a pattern over wet paint. When the paint dried, the wool fibers would stick to the paper, producing an effect that was similar in appearance to silk damask.
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©The Montpelier Foundation and Dr. Susan Buck
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Photomicrographs of the tiny fragment of flocked red wallpaper found by Dr. Buck in the Drawing Room. The small hair-shaped particles seen in the photos are short pieces of wool flocking that have been dyed red. |