Historical Variations of Decoupage

Seventeenth Century

Baroque (dramatic light and shade, ornate and large, flowing lines, elaborate, over scaled and bold details), classic and grotesque (strange, fantastic and bizarre).

Eighteenth Century

Rococo (playful, pretty, romantic, elaborate, small scale, asymmetrical or rocaille (using shells, chinoi­serie (see below), singerie (depicting monkeys in human costumes and comical situations). This style is characterized by paintings of the period and includes leaves, shells, scrolls, tiny flowers, Florentine swirls, and moody backgrounds. Eighteenth century decoupage is what many think of as true decoupage.

Victorian

Early Victorian decoupage is classic in feeling and made from originals or reproductions of hand-colored eighteenth century prints. It’s characterized by having been totally covered by pictures without any background showing. Contemporary Victorian decoupage is done with pre colored and cut out embossed scrapbook pictures and gold paper braid.

Modern

Modern decoupage makes use of currently printed papers - such as calendars, gift cards, magazines, and wrapping papers

Chinoiserie

This style imitates Chinese painted and inlaid work using Chinese images. The background is often black but can be other colours.

Print Room

This style is characterised by the use of nineteenth century drawings in black and white on a pale pastel background.

Trompe l’Oiel

This style offers an optical illusion. Images are combined that give an impression that is not real. (For example, a tray with a picture of a cup of coffee.)

Cloisonné

Cloisonné is enamel decorated with colors separated from each other by fine wire or thin metal partitions. In decoupage, it’s is a technique for embellishing cutouts involving simulating cloisonné by adding a thin gold, silver, copper etc edge to the cutouts before adhering them to the surface. Cutouts are glued to metallic wrapping paper and then recut with one millimeter of the metallic wrap showing.

Illumination