SET OF FIVE WALLPAPERS FROM THE "VUES D'AMÉRIQUE DU NORD" SERIES BY ZUBER & CIE

Set of five panoramic wallpapers from the "Vues d'Amérique du Nord"("Scenic America"), designed by Jean-Julien Deltil and published by the renowned Zuber & Cie factory. Printed for the first time in 1834, the series is made up of 32 strips in a complete panoramic design. It is considered one of the pinnacles of the art of panoramic wallpaper, both for its technique - engraved plate printing (1,690 hand-sculpted plates) - and for the richness of its compositions.

Produced using the age-old technique of block printing, these monumental decors are a jewel of French craftsmanship and a rare testimony to the 19th-century vogue for wall panoramas.

PANEL 1 - NIAGARA FALLS

The first panoramic panel depicts Niagara Falls. The scene opens with a spectacular view of the falls, flooded with light. The view embraces both the grandeur of the forest-capped cliffs and the torrential force of the cascading waterfalls. The composition, with its remarkable pictorial balance, highlights the majesty of the site, delicately underlined by a sky of iridescent light, typical of Zuber's hand-painted landscapes. The foreground on the right enlivens the scene with figures in 19th-century costume, an American family attending the show, while on the left, a winding path runs along the rugged shoreline, adding narrative depth. America's pioneering dimension is underscored in the center by steamboats and several sailing ships, testifying to the rise of technical progress and the opening up of the continent.

Dim: W: 229cm - H: 204cm - D: 1cm

PANEL 2 - NEW YORK BAY

The scene depicted here shows New York Bay, the heart of economic and urban life at the time, the point of entry and exit to the "New World". Groups of elegant European and American figures, dressed as they were around 1830-40, stroll and chat, illustrating both the idea of the social promenade and the elite's discovery of the New World. A horse-drawn carriage carries travelers, while other riders and strollers enliven the scene in a spirit of curiosity and sociability. The panorama opens onto a spectacular view of New York Bay, bustling with sailboats and steamships, symbols of a dynamic port open to the Atlantic and the world. In the background, the skyline suggests the extent of the city, its first major buildings, its bell towers... The hills and pine trees in the foreground are a reminder of the omnipresence of nature on the outskirts of the booming city.

Dim: W: 159cm - H: 204cm - D: 1cm

PANEL 3 - BOSTON HARBOR #1

The third panel depicts a Boston harbor scene typical of the first decades of the 19th century in North America. In the foreground, a group of figures dressed in period costumes load and watch over bales, barrels and crates on the shore. In the background, numerous sailing ships, at anchor or unloading/shipping, stand out against the pastel sky, suggesting the vitality of American maritime trade. To the left, tall trees painted in a greenish-blue palette contrast the calm power of nature with the bustle of the port.

Dim: W: 208cm - H: 204cm - D: 1cm

PANEL 4 - BOSTON HARBOR #2

The scene depicts the bustling port activity of Boston Harbor. Workers and sailors are busy loading and unloading barrels and goods. In the bustling bay, several sailboats, barques and steamers pass each other on the lively water, illustrating the city's commercial dynamism. The last shot shows a panorama of the city of Boston, structured by a profusion of red roofs and public and religious buildings, from which many steeples emerge.

Dim: W: 167cm - H: 204cm - D: 1cm

PANEL 5 - THE VIRGINIA BRIDGE

This fifth panel depicts a meeting between North American natives and European figures, against a backdrop of imposing landscapes. In the center, a group of Amerindians adorned in traditional costumes - feathers, moccasins, colorful tunics - participate in a ritual dance, while others in the background appear to be observing or waiting. On either side, several groups elegantly dressed in 19th-century European fashion (frock coats, full dresses, parasols) observe the scene. In the background, a sumptuous landscape of tall trees, a spectacular rocky massif, wooded mountains and a meandering river. The monumental arch appears to represent Virginia's famous "Natural Bridge", a geological curiosity frequently reproduced in romantic panoramas of the period: a symbol of the grandeur and mystery of North American nature.

Dim: W: 167cm - H: 204cm - D: 1cm

These panoramic decors have gained international renown, notably when they were was installed in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House by Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s. This room, originally a boiler room, was transformed into a reception room for diplomats, and the choice of this wallpaper was intended to reflect the historical and cultural importance of the place.

Zuber & Cie, founded in 1790 and based in Rixheim, Alsace, since 1797, is a manufacturer renowned for its hand-printed panoramic decors using traditional techniques. The Zuber factory is the only one in the world to have maintained the tradition of block printing for the creation of panoramic decors. This artisanal technique, using carved wooden boards, gives each piece unrivalled quality and depth. The Manufacture's archives hold some 130,000 documents, testifying to the richness and diversity of its creations over more than two centuries.

Condition report: the wallpaper was formerly mounted on 5 panels. Missing, worn and restored throughout, with tonal differences.