A French papier peint by a follower of Etienne Delicourt circa 1878

depicting a deer, stork and a wolf in a landscape; now in a later frame  

Sold lot 74, Papier Peints Ancien, Collection de La Maison Follot, Sotheby's Parke Bernet Monaco S.A., 7th and 8th February 1982.

 

.

Colours overall slightly darker and more attractive than in the catalogue illustration. The papier peint is now mounted on later canvas and wooden batons. Some very minor creases, and there is a horizontal crease towards the upper section of the sky as visible from the photograph which shows the slight crease. In otherwise good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is probably part of a suite of papier peints depicting the Fables of La Fontaine  which was made for the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris and exhibited by Hoock, the successor of Delicourt.

La Maison Follot was a manufacturer of papier peints created in 1859 by Philippe Follot with Jules Archille Paupette and was established at 128 rue de Charenton near Dufour et Leroy. Félix Follot who took over the house in 1868 was the first true historian of papier peints, and he, together with his son Charles, formed the collection of papier peints of some of the companies which had become extinct. Félix Follot contributed greatly to the creation of the papier peints collection at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs by a legacy in 1912 and also at the Musée de la Malmaison by a legacy in 1914.