PEM in an Hour
14. Strathallan Wallpaper
As you enter, you’ll hear bagpipes, the Chinese musical instrument, the erhu, a thunderstorm, birds singing and the occasional clink of porcelain cups during tea time. Take a seat and warm yourself by the fire. I sure want to! This hand painted Chinese export wallpaper was painted about 1800 for James Drummond, who was a Scottish merchant in the British East India Company. Drummond spent about 20 years in China, and when he was heading home to cold, rainy Scotland, he brought a bit of China home with him by having this remarkable wallpaper created. Many houses in Scotland and elsewhere had hand painted Chinese wallpaper, but this set is absolutely unique in that it depicts the foreign factories or Hongs of Canton, known today as Guangzhou. This paper hung on the walls of the Strathallan Castle in Scotland for 175 years before it arrived at an antiques dealer in London, and that’s where we bought it. Years of careful conservation have made it possible to create this immersive installation.
Now find the wall of porcelain at the other end of the gallery.