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Victorian Wallpaper - in popular emerald green - which contained poisonous arsenic
Victorian Wallpaper - in popular emerald green - which contained poisonous arsenic. William Morris, famed for his wallpaper designs, was the son of the owner of the largest arsenic producing company in the country. He was sceptical that arsenic was bad for you and held that because he had arsenical wallpaper in his home (and wasn t sick) it had to be something else! Morris did however stop using arsenic in their papers as the result of public pressure, newspaper reports and a general idea that arsenic was toxic, not just when ingested. Date: 19th century
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Media ID 20029080
© Mary Evans / The National Archives, London. England
Archives Arsenic Covering Health Poison Poisonous Sample Toxic Wallpaper
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph showcases a vintage sample of Victorian-era emerald green wallpaper, a popular choice during the 19th century. The allure of this exquisite design, with its intricate floral motifs, transports us back in time to an era of opulence and elegance. However, this seemingly beautiful adornment holds a hidden, dark secret. The emerald hue of this wallpaper was achieved through the use of a notorious ingredient: arsenic. At the time, arsenic was a common additive in wallpaper production, adding vibrancy and longevity to the designs. However, its inclusion came with a steep price. William Morris, a renowned figure of the Victorian era, was the son of the owner of the largest arsenic producing company in the country. Despite the mounting evidence of arsenic's toxicity, Morris, who was also a prominent designer, remained skeptical. He believed that because he and his family were not showing any signs of illness, the arsenic in their wallpaper could not be the cause. However, public pressure, newspaper reports, and a growing awareness of arsenic's toxicity eventually led Morris to abandon the use of arsenic in his wallpaper designs. The truth about the dangers of arsenic was beginning to spread, and the public demanded safer alternatives. This photograph serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between beauty, innovation, and health during the Victorian era. Though the emerald green wallpaper may have once been a symbol of wealth and sophistication, it now stands as a testament to the hidden costs of progress.
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