Walter Crane wallpapers

As well as illustrating numerous children's books, Walter Crane (1845-1915) was one of the best known designers of children's wallpapers in England during the 1870's and 1880's. Much of his design work was based on popular fairy tales of the time, such as 'The Sleeping Beauty' (1879) and 'The House that Jack built' (1886).
Crane's wallpaper designs were used in many of Europe's and America's most elegant houses, and were considered to be educational as well as beautiful. I agree!

'Miss Mouse at Home' designed by Walter Crane in 1877 and produced by Jeffrey & Co.

'The Sleeping Beauty' wallpaper was designed by Crane in 1879 and produced by Jeffrey & Co.

'Saxon Roses' 1909

There is a great exhibition on at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York: Wall Stories: Children's Wallpaper and Books. Several of Crane's designs and book illustrations are on display, alongside designs that chronicle the decoration of nursery bedrooms from the 1870's onwards. The exhibition runs until April 5, 2009.