PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Preservation of wallpaper as a part of interiors
4.2. METHODS FOR PRESERVING
A WALLPAPER IN AN INTERIOR
4.2.1. Monitoring
As mentioned above, ideally a papered room should be surveyed
before the start of conservation treatment. To avoid any further
damage, it is important to determine the environmental factors
affecting the object. Monitoring should include: control of
fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity, intensity of
illumination, structural movements in walls and the moisture
content of plaster walls.
In addition, buildings open to the public often lead to a large
amount of dust brought in by numerous guests. Such a problem
is faced, for example, by the museum of the Schönbrunn
Palace in Vienna, where dust brought in by guests accumulates
on the surface of wall covers. The dust originates most
probably from the gravel covering the public square in front
of the palace.
If possible, monitoring should be carried out throughout the
year to ensure a complete overview of climate-related changes
and other possible causes of damage. The architectural conservator
needs to make any physical alterations required prior to
remounting a conserved wallpaper or treating a wallpaper in situ.
For example, one can consolidate weak plaster or wooden walls,
eliminate the reasons for water leakage, such as defective water
pipes, and reduce the amount of UV-light shining on walls.
4.2.2. Textual documentation
Since conservators develop either their own documentation forms
or employ forms created by institutions, there is no universal
form to document historic wallpapers. According to Michelle
Moore, two types of documentation can be distinguished: textual
documentation and visual documentation. In the case of textual
documentation, two types have developed: free-text documentation,
a type of essay describing the object and its conservation
treatment, 310 and check-list documentation.
310
Moore, “Conservation Documentation and...”, 6.
171