Antique-Print Picture Wall
By Jane F ~ February 28th, 2010. Filed under: Décor.
For more than two years I have scoured auctions for a set of antique botanical prints for my bedroom, hoping to get some at a reasonable price. Nineteenth century prints like these originally came in subscription books and were hand-colored by artists. Last month, I wrote about my successful auction bid — a group of six Belgian fruit lithographs by Alexandre Joseph Desire Bivort (1809-1872) which, despite their age and provenance, each cost about the same as a Pottery Barn frame.
Once I got them home, I realized I had an alternate spot for them, a dining room wall in our apartment where I am also planning a marble-topped cabinet. It’s an important space that takes up about one-third of the major sightline from our front door. It’s the first thing anyone sees. I still plan a chest there but I haven’t yet found the right one.
The scale of the wall is perfect for three pairs of 16 x 19-inch lithographs. Allowing for a 36-inch tall chest, the hanging area measures 73-1/2” wide by 58-1/2” high. The chest height is marked off with the first tape above the white chair-rail molding. After some addition and subtraction plus a little more marking up with frog tape (which won’t damage cured paint), I calculated the 3 pairs would fill out the wall with 6-inches on each side and in between. Placing hooks at 12-1/2” and 35-1/2” below the picture molding gave me 8-inches above and below the set with 4 inches in between, give or take ½-inch. Like a tile-setter I began at the center point — 36-3/4” and established a plumb line by taping up a length of twine with a lightweight metal bracket tied to the bottom (above). Then I marked off the hook heights for the center pair on that line.
To locate the left and right pairs, I added half the width of each litho plus the space in between, or 22” (8” + 6” + 8”), putting up the plumb line on each side and measuring from side-to-side across it to place the hooks.
Here’s the result. Project complete! But please don’t ask me about the blank 10-foot long wall to the right of the doorway — or at least not yet.
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February 28th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
They look great, Jane. Nice job keeping them straight – not an easy task!
February 28th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
You did a very good job finding and hanging these! They are classics that will last a lifetime and complement almost any decor. I am glad they will be in the dining room so more people can enjoy them. I am going to remember the tape next time I start hanging pictures!
February 28th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I love these olden fruit prints! I do believe you found the perfect spot for them! I love it.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
February 28th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Love these prints. What a perfect spot for them!
February 28th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Those prints are gorgeous! And the way you have them displayed makes them even more beautiful! I love your choice of paint color too!
Kat
February 28th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Very pretty and you di a good job of hanging them.
February 28th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I love antique fruit and botanical prints. These are beautiful! They look great in their new home!
February 28th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
So pretty. I need to hang some pictures, but I am always fearful that I will not put a collage together correctly. I love how these are arranged.
February 28th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
these look great, what a find!
February 28th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Oh they look wonderful! Like they were commissioned for that spot. Size, colour, are all a perfectg fit. You’d never think they were found objects.
So is that wall paint Stoney Ground or is it Shaded White? And what about the colour of the hallway of whoich we get a delectable little bit of a peek ? The same or a blue?
Love the lithographs you found. I do so like the old fruit & botanicals too.
February 28th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Simply lovely!
m ^..^
March 1st, 2010 at 12:12 am
I love it! What great botanicals and you hung them perfectly–not an easy thing to do! I always end up putting way to many holes in the wall. I will try your technique next time.
March 1st, 2010 at 2:15 am
I’m so glad to see a post on this b/c I’m trying to hang some pictures on my stair wall, and it’s not an easy thing to figure out how to do it on a slant, especially!
March 1st, 2010 at 8:37 am
Beautifully done, and beautiful! That wall now looks like it was meant for that collection. How high are your ceilings??
March 1st, 2010 at 9:14 am
What a proffessional and perfect job! Kudos!
March 1st, 2010 at 10:05 am
Bravo Jane!
I have a phobia about hanging multiple pictures, so I go for “unusual” arrangements or default to large-scale art.
You did a fine job with a really difficult task. They look perfect for the space.
You need to do a how-to video for us next.
Oh, and I second the positive response to your paint color. A really charming space.
Mary-Frances Cimo
Color Designer
March 1st, 2010 at 11:16 am
Such pretty prints. I think they are so much better suited to your dining room than your bedroom. Maybe you can find some florals for your bedroom.
tina
March 1st, 2010 at 11:17 am
Looks great! I think the prints are much better suited to your dining room than a bedroom. Maybe you can find some florals for your bedroom.
tina
March 1st, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I think they look great there!
March 1st, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Thanks to all for the lovely comments. Seeing them up makes me feel it was worthwhile but your comments are icing on the cake.
Glad everyone also likes the paint color. Yes, mindstorm it is Farrow & Ball Stony Ground which looks very light in that western light. Ceilings are 10-4″ with picture rail 1-foot below. Odd tray ceilings.
I actually had a lasar level in my hand but I said to myself that I could do it with a plumb line. Honestly, the hardest part was the math followed by not messing up the nails which wouldn’t go into the old plaster easily at all (however, it’s probably my hammer technique).
Jane!
March 1st, 2010 at 9:07 pm
They are beautiful prints and look perfect on that wall. I much prefer buying antique things over something out of a catalog.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 am
What a terrific spot for those prints. Such a great job in hanging and explaining the process. I’m making note of your tips!!
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 am
Very beautiful! and they look like they were made for that spot. Love all the colors together with your wall paint and the blue of the chairs. I also love the old prints. Great find!
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Oh they look beautiful there. Very nice prints indeed.