Dresden Foils

Dresden foils and paper scrap embellishments, a sentimental preoccupation of the Victorian era, have once again become popular.

Paper scraps first appeared at the beginning of the 19th Century in the form of simple black-and-white engravings, often later tinted by hand. By the 1820s the designs had become more elaborate and were sometimes embossed - a process by which a die was stamped into the reverse side, giving the front a raised three-dimensional appearance. Many of the best-quality scraps were produced in Germany, where bakers and confectioners used small pieces with reliefs to decorate cakes and biscuits for christenings, weddings, Christmas and Easter. In 1837, the first year of Queen Victoria's reign, came the invention of the colour printing process known as chromolithography and manufacturers were quick to apply the new technology to their products. The embossed designs were made in sheets with each of the pieces connected by small strips to keep them in place.

paper foil, Dresdan German paper, decoupage, victorian

Since the labor-intensive task of cutting out small pictures was removed, sales began to increase significantly. Collections were pasted into specially produced albums, along with decorated calling cards, food wrappers and pictures from catalogs. Often personal notes, lines of poetry or dedications were added.

victorian paper scrapbooks, decoupage, collage

Romanticism and sentimentality were subjects that were highly sought-after. Among the most popular, included angelic-looking children, fashionably dressed ladies, birds, butterflies, pets, angels and fans. Also popular were military and naval themes as well as circus and seaside outings. Extravagant Valentine cards were often composed of paper lace, embossed gold foils, ribbons, lace, flowers and feathers with the scraps as the main focal point.

The Victorians attached considerable importance to the celebration of Christmas and a wide range of Christmas ornamentation were produced. Featured were angels, winter scenes, children and most popular of all, the figure of Father Christmas. These reliefs were pasted onto cards and boxes and were made into Christmas decorations of all kinds.

In recent years, a huge revival in nostalgia and the popularity of decoupage, has resulted in strong demand for these gorgeous, vintage-look, foil paper scrap embellishments.