Wallpaper sample book, 'Distinctive Wallpapers'

This sample book of wallpapers was produced by Guthrie Bowron & Co. Ltd. in Wellington, New Zealand. It was used by Raymond (Ray) Weeber (1917-2011, Wellington) who worked as a house painter and decorator in Wellington from the 1930s to 1970s. He learnt the trade from his father Gordon Weeber who began the business around 1919.

Wallpaper had been popular in New Zealand homes since the nineteenth century, but increased in availability and colourful design in the 1950s. Papers were both imported and made in New Zealand, with locally-made papers becoming increasingly available in the 1960s. Wallpaper was either installed by experienced decorators such as the Weebers, or as DIY (do-it-yourself) projects. The colourful and attractive designs of the wallpapers belie the hours of hard graft in gluing and hanging them, at times perched on ladders and planks.