Illustrated Architecture Dictionary
......................... Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary

Lincrusta

A a type of wallpaper having a hard embossed surface

Lincrusta was launched in 1877 to instant success in a host of applications from royal homes to railway carriages. Heralded as the first washable wallcovering, it appealed to Victorians because of its sanitary properties as well as its durability and ornate effects.

A British invention, it was the brainchild of manufacturer Frederick Walton whose father pioneered linoleum floor covering in the 1860´s. Originally launched as "Linoleum Muralis", it was subsequently re-named "Lincrusta-Walton" - Lin for Linum (flax, from which linseed oil is made) and Crusta (Relief), with the inventor´s name being added to prevent other firms using the same title.
- Lincrusta (online Jan. 2013)
Lincrusta Walton

A building material that comes in a roll and is used for decorative purposes; it has a smooth or decorative textured surface.

The material consists of a dense paper foundation, which is coated with a thin layer of plastic. This coating is produced from a synthetic resin or, in a few cases, from vegetable oils (or their substitutes), to which fillers (cork dust and sawdust), plasticizers, and pigments are added.

Lincrusta Walton is used primarily to decorate the interior walls of public buildings (mainly administrative buildings) and the interiors of passenger vehicles (coaches and cabins). The use of the material in contemporary construction is limited as a result of the appearance of washable wallpaper.
- The Free Dicrtionary  (online Feb. 2018)
Lincrusta is a deeply embossed wallcovering.

A British invention, it was the brainchild of inventor Frederick Walton who earlier patented linoleum floor covering. Lincrusta was launched in 1877 and was used in a host of applications from royal homes to railway carriages.

The linseed gel continues to dry for many years, so the surface actually gets tougher over time. Many examples over a hundred years old can still be found throughout the world.

Lincrusta is made from a paste of gelled linseed oil and wood flour spread onto a paper base. It is then rolled between steel rollers, one of which has a pattern embossed upon it. It was originally manufactured in Sunbury-on-Thames until 1918 when the manufacturing was moved to Darwen, Lancashire. Lincrusta is now produced in Morecambe, Lancashire using traditional methods.

The first production of Lincrusta in the United States was in 1883 in Stamford, Connecticut. There were also factories built in 1880 at Pierrefitte, near Paris, France and by 1889 at Hannover, Northern Germany.
- Educalingo (online Feb. 2018)


Examples from Buffalo:


Photos and their arrangement © 2018Chuck LaChiusa
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