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Inside the House of Cole & Son

Consisting of approximately 2,000 block print designs, 500 screen print patterns and a huge quantity of original drawings and wallpapers, amongst which are some of the most important historic wallpaper designs in the world.

Company founded by John Perry in North London.

In a vibrant hub of more than 190 block printing companies active during the 18th and 19th Centuries, John Perry, son of a Cambridgeshire merchant is carving out a name for himself.

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1875

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1883

John Perry builds and opens a wallpaper factory in Offord Road, Islington London.

Perry, with discerning taste and innovative foresight harnesses the power of industry to complement traditional woodblock printing methods prevalent at the time.

A new century1900

Perry revived hand flock wallpaper, a process imitating cut velvet originating in Holland in the late 17th Century.

1910

John Perry develops a range of techniques including pan coating, used to create deep, rich, tactile stripes and strié prints.

But perhaps Perry’s most notable contribution to the wallpaper industry was the creation of a process to imitate silk.

Using a solution of ground mica, he was able to develop a lustre-like silk effect on the paper which is still used today

1941

A.P. Cole, proprietor of Cole & Son (Wallpapers) Ltd, purchases the company, including some 2000 wooden wallpaper printing blocks acquired by Perry from neighbouring firms as they closed down over the course of the previous 60 years.

The company now exhibits the best in quality wallpaper manufacture from showrooms on aristocratic Mortimer Street in central London

1948

Cole & Son create one of the first screen print studios in Europe

1950s
– 1960s

Cole & Son create some of the most iconic wallpaper prints of the Contemporary design movement, including Woods and Palm Leaves

1875 1961

Cole & Son is granted a Royal Warrant as a supplier of wallpaper to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Cole & Son collaborate with international luxury design houses such as Italian atelier Fornasetti and the South African studio Ardmore Ceramic Art.

2000 –
2010

2019

Cole & Son launch their first fabric collection, The Contemporary Collection – Fabrics, a selection of some of the design house’s best-loved designs in a range of luxurious textiles

Today

With a commitment and passion for design excellence the Cole & Son studio continues to produce innovative and beautiful wallpapers; current collections reflect a long and distinguished history as well as a continuing passion for artistic design and quality craftsmanship.