Previously known only from black and white archival photographs, the remarkable discovery was made after conservators and art historians studied historical interior design plans of the palace’s Raspberry Parlor before deciding to remove three of the woven fabrics.

Posting on social media, staff at the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów said: “We discovered ‘Eldorado’ in the Wilanów Palace! And what an Eldorado it was!

“The discovery exceeded our wildest expectations! The wallpaper patterns are beautiful, and together with the painted decoration on the ceiling, the rich stucco on the facets and the graining on the wainscoting, they create a harmonious whole.”

Featuring lush landscapes, exotic birds, and depictions of Asia, Europe, Africa, and America, the intricate designs are part of the ‘El Dorado’ pattern created in 1848 by French industrialist Jean Zuber at his wallpaper factory in the town of Rixheim.

The intricate pattern was produced using 1,554 wooden blocks engraved with different patterns and 192 colors.

In a painstaking process common in high-end 19th century interior decoration, the engraved blocks are first placed in paint before being pressed onto paper to slowly create the stunningly intricate final patterns. The Zuber factory, still operational today, retains many of the original tools and has listed its historical techniques as part of its cultural heritage.

The wallpapers were originally covered during post-war renovations, when Wilanów Palace’s northern wing was adapted to serve as a space for hosting international dignitaries, including French leader Charles de Gaulle.

At the time, it was deemed that elegant fabric would be more suitable for official receptions.

The conservation process of the newly discovered wallpapers, which is expected to take several years, will include removing the remaining fabric, securing the fragile wallpaper, and restoring damaged sections.