Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Zuber manufacture, installed in Rixheim in 1797 in an old commissioned office of the Teutonic Knights, is a company specialized in the manufacture of wallpapers, furniture fabrics and paints. Founded in 1790 by Jean-Jacques Dollfus for his son Nicolas, it grew rapidly thanks to the similarities between the emerging industry of wallpaper and that of printed fabrics, then flourishing in Alsace. Jean Zuber, who entered as an 18-year-old traveller, became his sole owner in 1802, giving his name to the factory.

The factory enjoyed an exceptional boom in the 19th century, thanks to technical and artistic innovations. It produced about 25 panoramic sets between 1804 and 1860, collaborating with renowned artists such as Pierre-Antoine Mongin (creator of the Views of Switzerland, first French panoramic decor) and Deltil (author of the Views of Brazil and the Horse Races). His creations, combining mural quality and technical constraints, earned him a worldwide reputation. Today, 80 to 90 per cent of its production still uses artisanal processes and original boards.

The site retains a unique heritage: nearly 130,000 documents, including thousands of carved wooden boards (classified as historical monuments in 1993), stored in medieval 15th century cellars. These boards, still in use, bear witness to the craftsmanship of the manufacture. The building, which includes vaulted basements dating back to 1586 and a facade remodelled in 1765, also houses a wallpaper museum and has served partially as a city hall since 1985.

The environment of the factory has evolved with the eras: an English park, created in the late nineteenth century, replaced the old French garden. This park, inspired by the floral motifs of the wallpapers, includes a heated greenhouse of the 1820s, probably the oldest in the region. The original commandory, built between 1735 and 1745 by Jean Caspar Bagnato, was first a prison and then a military hospital before being acquired by Zuber in 1797.

The Zuber manufacture is distinguished by its longevity and artistic heritage. Ranked a historic monument in total in 2011 (buildings, courtyard, park and greenhouse), it remains a symbol of Alsatian know-how. Its panoramic decorations, printed by traditional methods, continue to fascinate with their precision and beauty, perpetuating a living heritage for more than two centuries.

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