A substance made by combining mashed paper with glue and other hardening agents, so that, when dry, it can be cut, shaped and even carved. Invented in the 18th century, papier mache was at first used for small items such as snuffboxes and fans. With an improvement in techniques, it was used in the second quarter of the 19th century for a variety of household furnishings chairs, small tables, fire screens, coal scuttles, trays, inkstands and so on. It was frequently gilded and painted with flowers, fruits and rather sentimental scenes, and commonly inset with mother-of-pearl to achieve a jewelled effect. Given the apparently flimsy nature of the material, it is surprising just how many papier mache pieces have survived.

The best known manufacturer of papier mache was the Birmingham and London firm of Jennens and Bettridge, whose name is stamped on the underside of items manufactured by more...

40 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A gilded and lacquered Chinoiserie tray, 19th century, the…

A gilded and lacquered Chinoiserie tray, 19th century, the papier mache tray of serpentine profile, exquisitely decorated with figural narratives set in exotic garden and pavilion settings, enclosed by painted rope twist and elaborate floral borders in…

A Victorian papier mache serving tray, 19th century the large…

Victorian Papier Mache Mother of Pearl Serving Tray

A Victorian papier mache serving tray, 19th century the large tray with scalloped edge decorated with inlaid mother of pearl floral motifs and gilt highlights to the bevelled border, length 65 cm, width 50 cm

Victorian paper mache tray with floral and bird decoration,…

Victorian Floral Bird Paper Mache Tray - 83cm Width

Victorian paper mache tray with floral and bird decoration, width 83 cm.

19th century papier mache floral painted and mother of pearl…

Floral Mother of Pearl Tray

19th century papier mache floral painted and mother of pearl inlaid tray of quatrefoil outline with gilt decorated border (faults and old repairs) 80 cm width

A 19th century black-ground papier mache tray, in exceptional…

Exotic Bird Papier Mache Tray with Chinese Edge

A 19th century black-ground papier mache tray, in exceptional condition, with a rare faux Chinese calligraphy edge to the cavetto rim, decorated overall with exotic birds amongst gilt foliage and flowers. 63 x 49.5 cm.

A Georgian still life papier mache tray, 65 cm long

Georgian Papier Mache Still Life Tray

A Georgian still life papier mache tray, 65 cm long

Four antique trays, 19th century and later, various shapes,…

Antique Trays, 19th Century and Later

Four antique trays, 19th century and later, various shapes, sizes and designs, including two tole ware trays two papier mache trays, the largest tray 61 x 44 cm.

A large Jennens and Betteridge tray, Oxblood in cartouche shape,…

Jennens & Betteridge Hand-Painted Oxblood Rose Tray

A large Jennens and Betteridge tray, Oxblood in cartouche shape, hand painted with central rose motif and gilt decoration. Impressed to underside 'Jennings and Betteridge, makers to the Queen' with crown insignia. 610 x 81 cm

Late 19th century Chinoiserie black lacquered papier mache…

Gilded Butterfly Papier Mache Butler's Tray

Late 19th century Chinoiserie black lacquered papier mache butler's tray decorated with gilded butterflies and foliage on a similar base

Good Victorian papier mache oval tray with inlaid mother of…

Victorian Papier Mache Tray with Mother of Pearl Inlay

Good Victorian papier mache oval tray with inlaid mother of pearl, c.1840s, width 62 cm approx.

Victorian large rectangular paper mache tray raised gallery…

Floral Hand-Painted Victorian Paper Mache Tray (Faulty)

Victorian large rectangular paper mache tray raised gallery with hand painted floral decoration (faults)

Victorian paper mache tray serpentine frame (faults)

Victorian Faulty Paper Mache Tray with Serpentine Frame

Victorian paper mache tray serpentine frame (faults)

Victorian black Japanned papier mache tray with mother of pearl…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Inlaid Japanned Tray

Victorian black Japanned papier mache tray with mother of pearl inlay, 79 cm x 65 cm

A Victorian papier mache tray and a bowl, mid 19th century, the…

Victorian Papier Mache Tray and Bowl

A Victorian papier mache tray and a bowl, mid 19th century, the tray with flowers and raised scalloped border, the bowl with a reserve of a painted bird, the papier mache tray 64 cm x 49 cm

Victorian papier mache tray decorated with a peacock, flowers…

Victorian Peacock Papier Mache Tray

Victorian papier mache tray decorated with a peacock, flowers and scrolling foliage, 64 cm x 50 cm

A papier mache Chinoiserie crumb tray and a brush circa 1920,…

Chinoiserie Crumb Tray & Brush, 1920

A papier mache Chinoiserie crumb tray and a brush circa 1920, tray width 29 cm

Napoleon III Papier Mache tray with abalone inlay, 30 cm long,…

Napoleon III Abalone Tray - 30x22cm

Napoleon III Papier Mache tray with abalone inlay, 30 cm long, 22 cm wide

Regency papier mache oblong tray the gallery with Greek key…

Regency Chinoiserie Papier Mache Tray with Greek Key Border

Regency papier mache oblong tray the gallery with Greek key border, the centre painted in black and gilt with an extensive Chinoiserie landscape of pagodas, exotic birds, 67 cm width

Antique paper mache Chinoiserie crumb brush and shell shaped…

Chinoiserie Crumb Brush and Tray Set

Antique paper mache Chinoiserie crumb brush and shell shaped tray, (tray 31 cm wide)

Victorian papier mache lacquered tray painted with a rural…

Victorian Lacquered Tray with English Lake Scene

Victorian papier mache lacquered tray painted with a rural English lake scene medallion, with a floral painted border, having a raised scalloped edge & a paper label to verso. Length 80 cm

Victorian papier mache tray, c. 1860, of oval shape, length 78…

Victorian Oval Papier Mache Tray, c. 1860

Victorian papier mache tray, c. 1860, of oval shape, length 78 cm width 62 cm

A fine shell inlaid and gilt shaped oval papier mache tray,…

Gilt Shell Inlaid Papier Mache Tray, 19th Century

A fine shell inlaid and gilt shaped oval papier mache tray, Continental mid 19th century, 61 cm long, 75.5 cm wide

Large Victorian papier mache tray, with angelic Grecian scene,…

Victorian Papier Mache Tray with Grecian Angelic Scene

Large Victorian papier mache tray, with angelic Grecian scene, 79 cm x 60.5 cm

Large Victorian papier mache tray, decorated with birds, 71.5…

Victorian Bird Decorated Papier Mache Tray

Large Victorian papier mache tray, decorated with birds, 71.5 cm x 57 cm approx

Large Victorian papier mache tray, hand painted with large…

Victorian Papier Mache Tray with Floral Bouquet

Large Victorian papier mache tray, hand painted with large floral bouquet flowers, gilt surround on maroon ground, 79 cm x 60 cm. Purchased Delomosne, Kensington High St. 1977

Large early Victorian papier mache tray, with floral design on…

Victorian Papier Mache Tray by Jennens and Bettridge

Large early Victorian papier mache tray, with floral design on green ground, by Jennens and Bettridge, England, with makers mark to back, 68 cm x 51.5 cm, Purchased Delomosne, Kensington High St. 1977. Jennens and Bettridge (1815-1864) were highly…

Two 19th century papier mache trays, comprising a mother of…

Pair of 19th Century Papier Mache Trays

Two 19th century papier mache trays, comprising a mother of pearl inlaid tray with Taj Mahal scene, the other hand painted with a peacock scene, signed Jennens & Bettridge London Birm., approx. 26 cm diameter (loss to one handle)

A 19th century Chinese export ware tray, black lacquered papier…

19th Century Chinese Export Papier Mache Tray

A 19th century Chinese export ware tray, black lacquered papier mache, rounded rectangular in form, painted with figures and pagoda, 61 cm wide

Large 19th century painted and decorated papier mache tray,…

19th Century Papier Mache Decorated Tray

Large 19th century painted and decorated papier mache tray, approx 70 cm wide, 60 cm deep

Antique French papier mache and mother of pearl crumb brush and…

French Papier Mache Crumb Brush and Tray Set

Antique French papier mache and mother of pearl crumb brush and tray (2)

Two papier mache trays, 19th century (2). Two papier mache…

19th Century Papier Mache Trays (2)

Two papier mache trays, 19th century (2). Two papier mache trays, 19th century each of lobed rectangular form, the green tray and black tray both painted and gilded with naturalistic flowers (2) The green tray 6 cm high, 79 cm wide, 60 cm deep The black…

A Victorian papier mache oval tray. Width 75 cm

Victorian Oval Papier Mache Tray - 75cm

A Victorian papier mache oval tray. Width 75 cm

19th century papier mache Chinoiserie decorated tray

Chinoiserie Papier Mache Tray

19th century papier mache Chinoiserie decorated tray

An impressive highly decorated shell shaped paper mache tray

Exquisite Shell-Shaped Paper Mache Tray

An impressive highly decorated shell shaped paper mache tray

Antique papier mache lacquered scalloped edge tray, floral…

Floral Papier Mache Tray with Scalloped Edge

Antique papier mache lacquered scalloped edge tray, floral decoration, approx 78 cm x 61 cm

Victorian papier mache tray with floral & gilt detail. Length…

Victorian Floral Tray with Gilt Detail - 67cm Length

Victorian papier mache tray with floral & gilt detail. Length 67 cm

A good Victorian Chinoserie papier mache tray inlayed with…

Victorian Chinoserie Tray with Mother of Pearl Inlay

A good Victorian Chinoserie papier mache tray inlayed with mother of pearl birds and flowers (A/F). 72 cm x 49.5 cm

Mother of pearl inlaid papier mache tray, approx 38 cm x 30 cm

Mother of Pearl Inlaid Papier Mache Tray

Mother of pearl inlaid papier mache tray, approx 38 cm x 30 cm

Large antique papier mache tray

Antique Papier Mache Serving Tray

Large antique papier mache tray

Orientalist papier mache tray. Chinese scene decorated. A/F.…

Chinese Papier Mache Tray - Decorated Scene - A/F

Orientalist papier mache tray. Chinese scene decorated. A/F. Length 71 cm