Notes & Queries, 23rd October 2013: How can I help the ladybirds?

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If you have a large sum of money burning a hole in your pocket and are planning on spending some of your fortune redecorating your home over the coming weeks, then you could invest in some Dimelow Domina Avem wallpaper. 

The paper, which is hand-woven from reed fibres on a bespoke loom at the Dimelow factory in Wrexham, comes embossed with a variety of patterns. The manufacturers are happy to incorporate your own designs upon request. After it has been hung, the paper is brushed with a special sugar solution which is absorbed into the raised parts of the pattern. These act as tiny reservoirs. 

During early Autumn, ladybirds who have found their way indoors to escape the cold temperatures will gravitate to the Domina Avem where they will plug themselves into one of the pronounced areas. The sugars stored-up in the paper will sustain them during their hibernation period which lasts until early spring. 

I first encountered this unusual home décor in 2007, at a Christmas party in Chelsea. The sugar solution had been artistically applied to the walls of the living room to create a mosaic of sleeping ladybirds, arranged so that they collectively formed the outlines of bare trees. Our hosts had erected a velvet rope in front of this living collage and a bouncer stood guard over it all evening. 

While I found the scene enchanting, my companion, who is more than happy to allow the odd ladybird to crawl along her arm, expressed the opinion that such a large number gathered together in one place was “rather creepy.” Before putting Domina Avem up on your walls, it is is worth giving some thought as to whether you want to share your home with thousands of bugs for the better part of half a year.

You should also consider the amount of maintenance involved. The sugar solution, which can be purchased from Dimelow in powdered form and then made up with water, must be reapplied to the paper every year, during late August or early September, depending on the coldness of the weather. Several coats will be required in order to build up sufficient reserves within the walls. The Dimelow website offers up to date advice on when best to do this. It is recommended that you do not use conventional paints on the paper, as these are likely to have a detrimental effect upon its absorbency and may also impede the ability of ladybirds to draw out essential nutrients.  

To avoid any ladybirds being inadvertently crushed by furniture, or brushed off the walls by accidental human contact, I suggest that the solution only be applied toward the top third of a room allowing them to hibernate out of harm's way. In the spring, when they wake up, it may be necessary to carry them outside or leave a window open.

Domina Avem dates back to the Georgian era when the Reverend Joel Winnett, who was a keen naturalist, speculated that ladybirds were deriving sustenance from certain types of plant during their hibernation. To prove his theory he created a paper made from a plant that was known to be popular with ladybirds which he infused with a solution made from the plant's sap. This paper was later adapted by a man called Alan Dimelow into canvases for his ladybird art, however it soon gained popularity as a wall hanging among the wealthy.  

The wallpaper experienced a resurgence in popularity around 1900, during the arts and crafts movement. It briefly came back into vogue during the 1980s, ironically after the Dimelow factory was burgled and large quantity of stock was taken. Judging by the amount of houses in the Tooting area of the capital with Domina Avem on their walls, the stolen goods must have made their way to south London. To this day, Tooting remains the urban area of the British isles with the highest concentration of ladybirds and the greatest diversity of species.

The price of this wallpaper places it beyond the affordability of all but the very wealthy. However, anyone buying an old property, particularly one in the Tooting area, should check for Domina Avem before attacking the walls with a scraper. Whether you decide to sugar-coat it, or simply keep it as a conversation piece, it will add character to any home and is a part of our nation's whimsical history. 

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