PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Methods of wallpaper production and mounting
To offer additional support in corners, edges of windowand
door-frames, another layer of lining paper or thin gauze 235
was applied. Besides the usual cotton-canvas, muslin was used
to support embossed or gilded papers in the 1870s.
Numerous practical tips for paperhanging could be found
in Werkbuch des Dekorateurs (1897), by Ferdinand Luthmer.
According to his recommendations, one should treat the wall
with glue water before attaching a layer of lining paper, in order
to bind loose dust and lime. A layer of lining paper was used for
two reasons: to smooth the roughness of the plastered wall, and
because the thinner glue used for mounting a wallpaper would
have a weaker bond with a plain wall. Special care had to be
taken with the edges of wallpaper strips, since they tended to
roll away from the wall. Ferdinand Luther recommended pasting
and nailing about 3-cm-wide strips of linen canvas along the
baseboard, door- and window frames, and under the cornices
and window panes.
To protect wallpapers from damp walls, the walls needed
to be covered with thin sheets of zinc, which were covered with
canvas or paper. In cases of light moisture, it was
sufficient to use wooden frames covered with canvas and
lining paper.
After wallpapers became generally affordable and available,
it was common to paste new layers directly onto old ones.
However before attaching, it was necessary to make sure that
old wallpaper layers were removed from the wall. Loose parts
were torn down and irregularities smoothed with pumice. 236
Embossed or flocked wallpapers were removed completely
before applying a new wallpaper.
235
Use of thin gauze was detected in Puurmani manor in South-Estonia.
236
Luthmer, Werkbuch des Dekorateurs, 114.
135