Ohio choices: wall stencilling in the Western Reserve before 1860

Abstract

Painting plaster walls with stencils was one design option used in Western Reserve homes before 1860. This study of nine stencilled houses in the eleven-county area documents the designs, comparing them with contemporary New England and New York. The owners were evaluated in terms of occupation, financial status, community participation, and geographic origin in order to determine patterns in the preference for stencilling's use. Included is a biography of stenciller H. W. Sabin and an analysis of his craft practice. One section discusses the results of laboratory paint testing (casein), the pigments and method of manufacture. The designs are iconographically described and compared with other decorative arts of the era. ☐ Business considerations are examined in Cleveland advertisements. An attempt to place stencilling in an economic spectrum along with its alternatives helps to form the conclusion that the choice was one of stylistic preference and availability rather than cost.