In the history of interior design, few works are as spectacular and refined as the panoramic wallpapers from the Zuber & Cie . These monumental decorations, the fruit of unique French craftsmanship, have graced the walls of the most elegant homes in Europe and America, transporting the gaze and imagination of viewers to distant lands.

Zuber & Cie, an exceptional manufacturer

Founded in 1797 in Rixheim, Alsace, the Zuber & Cie factory is one of the last remaining panoramic wallpaper workshops in the world. From its inception, Zuber specialized in woodblock printing, a technique where each color in a design requires a separate, hand-crafted block, sometimes requiring over 1,600 individual blocks for a series like "Views of North America." Once printed, the wallpapers are then hand-painted to enhance the colors, backgrounds, and details. This process gives their wallpapers unparalleled depth, nuance, and richness, transforming them into true works of art.

The Zuber factory is the only one in the world to have maintained the tradition of block printing for the creation of panoramic murals. The factory's archives contain approximately 130,000 documents, testifying to the richness and diversity of its creations for over two centuries.

One of the manufacturer's best-known series is entitled "Views of North America," and we will discover it together in this article...

 

" Views of North America " : the American dream as seen from Europe

Created in 1834 by the painter Jean-Julien Deltil (1791-1863), the series "Views of North America" ​​embodies the admiration and curiosity that Romantic Europe then felt for the New World . Composed of 32 panels*, this panoramic fresco takes the viewer from New York Bay to the picturesque banks of Niagara, passing through Boston, Virginia, and the banks of the Mississippi.

Here we discover bustling ports, such as those of New York and Boston, where steamboats, sailing ships, and horse-drawn carriages attest to the vibrant commercial activity; magnificent landscapes—forests, plains, and waterfalls—enhanced by soft light; and scenes of daily life blending colonists, Native Americans, slaves, and travelers, reflecting the tensions and diversity of America in the first half of the 19th century. A true historical document, this series combines exoticism, meticulous observation, and graphic poetry.

This panoramic design has gained international renown, particularly when it was installed in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House at the behest of 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 significance of the place.

In our collection we have 5 wallpapers mounted on wooden panels from the "Views of North America" ​​series representing 5 of the 7 scenes (23 of the 32 strips) of the overall mural:

• Niagara Falls

The first panoramic panel depicts Niagara Falls. The scene opens with a spectacular view of the falls, bathed in light. The eye takes in both the grandeur of the forest-crowned cliffs and the torrential force of the cascades plunging into the river. The composition, remarkably balanced pictorially, highlights the majesty of the site, delicately underscored by a sky with 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 watching the spectacle, while on the left, a winding path follows the rugged riverbank, adding narrative depth. America's pioneering spirit is emphasized in the center by steamboats and several sailing vessels, testifying to the rise of technological progress and the opening up of the continent.

One of Zuber's Niagara Falls wallpaper examples is currently kept at the Louvre Museum: discover .

• New York Bay

The scene depicted here shows New York Harbor, the heart of economic and urban life at the time, the gateway to and from the "New World." Groups of elegant figures, European or American, dressed in the fashions of the 1830s and 40s, stroll and converse, illustrating both the idea of ​​a fashionable promenade and the discovery of the New World by the elite. A horse-drawn carriage carries travelers, while other riders and strollers enliven the scene with a spirit of curiosity and sociability. The panorama opens onto a spectacular view of New York Harbor, bustling with numerous sailing ships and a few steamships, symbols of the dynamism of the port open to the Atlantic and the world. In the background, the skyline suggests the city's expanse, its first major buildings, its steeples... The hills and pine trees in the foreground serve as a reminder of the nature that was then omnipresent on the edge of the burgeoning city.

• Boston Harbor #1

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

• Boston Harbor #2

This scene depicts the bustling activity of Boston Harbor. Workers and sailors are busy loading and unloading barrels and other goods. In the lively bay, several sailboats, rowboats, and steamships crisscross the water, illustrating the city's commercial dynamism. In the background, a panorama of Boston unfolds, its landscape a tapestry of red rooftops and public and religious buildings, many with church steeples rising above them.

• The Virginia Bridge

This fifth panel depicts, against a backdrop of magnificent landscapes, a meeting between Native Americans and European figures. In the center, a group of Native Americans, adorned in traditional costumes—feathers, moccasins, colorful tunics—participate in a ritual dance, while others in the background appear to observe or wait. On either side, several groups elegantly dressed in 19th-century European fashion (frock coats, flowing gowns, parasols) watch the scene. In the background, a sumptuous landscape unfolds, composed of tall trees, a spectacular rock formation, wooded mountains, and a winding river. The monumental arch visible in the background seems to represent the famous "Natural Bridge" in Virginia, a geological wonder frequently depicted in romantic panoramas of the era: a symbol of the grandeur and mystery of North American nature.

PURCHASE THE PANORAMA

Conclusion

Classified as "historical monuments," Zuber's wood engravings are still used today to hand-print these panoramas. Zuber wallpapers continue to captivate collectors, decorators, and history enthusiasts, enjoying a new lease on life in contemporary interiors, museums, and prestigious hotels.

"  Views of North America  " ​​series showcases the decorative genius of Zuber & Cie and the ability of panoramic wallpaper to tell stories and transport the occupants of a room to distant worlds. Heirs to a two-hundred-year-old tradition, these designs remain invitations to travel, escape, and contemplation.

*A strip is the width of a wallpaper between two selvedges

Sources :

• https://escapadeur.eu/histoire/papier-peint-zuber-maison-blanche/?utm_source=openai
• https://www.zuber.fr/fr/historique-zuber?utm_source=openai
• https://collections.louvre.fr/ark%3A/53355/cl010101777?utm_source=openai