PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Discussing principles of conservation
3.4. CONCLUSION
Due to the interdisciplinary character of historic interiors, commonly
a combination of various conservation principles is used
to prolong the life-span of a historic object. Despite the lack of
standards in conservation treatment, conservation objects can
be characterized by values attributed to them. According to Alois
Riegl’s division of monuments, historic wallpaper can be considered
to be an unintentional monument. Since wallpaper is
a result of human activity combined with artistic volition, both
artistic and historical values can be attributed to it. Although
all wallpapers can be seen as artistic and historical monuments,
not all of them can be preserved. To decide on possible conservation
solutions, additional values, such as the value of rarity
and the monetary value, should be taken into account.
The aim of conservation treatment is to consolidate the
physical condition of an object and ensure its preservation for
future generations. To maintain a historic wallpaper, all known
conservation principles should be applied: preservation, restoration,
conservation and reconstruction. However, in all cases,
the most important aim is to preserve as much historic material
as possible.
Besides a small circle of professionals, conservation objects
are commonly used and observed by a large number of nonprofessionals.
The extent and character of conservation treatment
often depends on the expectation of the owner and his/her
financial possibilities. That is why modern conservation theory
supports the idea of including the owner in discussions regarding
the conservation process and its aims. However, including
ordinary people in discussions may lead to a highly subjective
outcome, which can be reduced by the interdisciplinary education
of the conservator and by including expert consultants
from various fields.
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