Decorative article having a bondable surface and method of manufacture

A heat and pressure consolidated article consisting essentially of, in superimposed relationship,

• A. a melamine/formaldehyde resin impregnated decorative cellulose paper sheet,
• B. a self-supporting substrate,
• C. a cellulosic paper sheet having a basis weight of from about 40 lb. to about 100 lb. per 3000 square foot ream, a Gurley porosity of from about 2 to about 35, a pH of from about 6.0 to about 7.5, a volatile content, before impregnation and consolidation, of from about 3% to about 7% and a wet strength of at least about 1.8 lb./in. width, impregnated with from about 50% to about 60% of melamine/formaldehyde resin having a viscosity of from about 40 to about 120 cps., and a specific gravity of from about 1.2 to about 1.3, and
• D. a second, originally unimpregnated, cellulosic, paper sheet having a basis weight of from about 15 lb. to about 30 lb. per 3000 square foot ream, a Gurley porosity of from about 1 to about 10 and an .alpha.-cellulosic content of about 100%, the exposed surface of which is characterized by a myriad of essentially raw and partially raw unimpregnated fiber appendages.