PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Preservation of wallpaper as a part of interiors
wallpaper, but so far the best outcome has been achieved by
spraying distilled water on the surface of wallpaper and letting
it soak in. 329 To avoid loose particles of dirt accumulating in the
material of the wallpaper, its surface should be dry-cleaned
beforehand. (Fig. 83) It is recommended that the water resistance
of colours be tested before an aqueous treatment. In the
case of flaky surfaces and runny pigments, it is highly recommended
to apply a layer of facing to the wallpaper.
For facing, Markus Krön and his team have used a Manila
hemp tissue known as Renova or Teesäckhenpapier (tea-bag
paper) from the Viennese provider Japico Feinpapier. However,
Renova paper is no longer produced. Instead of Renova
paper, light machine-made Japanese papers, such as archival
interleaving tissue L2, 330 Japico’s Kuranai Natural produced of
Manila hemp 331 or Abaca tissue, 332 can be used. The last tissues
is made of Abaca fibres, which are used to make Western and
thin sheets of Japanese-style paper. It is also used widely for tea
bags. 333 Although the consistency of various products might be
similar, their names vary due to different producers.
For facing, pieces of Renova paper were covered with a
thin layer of methyl cellulose or gelatine in a 2% ethanol solution
and applied to the printed side of the wallpaper. The layer
of facing applies enough moisture to the wallpaper to ease its
removal from the base. After dismounting a wallpaper, it should
be allowed to dry before packing and transportation. 334
When transporting large dismounted pieces of wallpaper,
they should be loosely rolled on large diameter cylinders and
stored on poles to avoid putting pressure on patterns. Similarly
to transporting paintings, it is important to roll the patterned
side of wallpaper outwards to minimize the damage to the col-
329
Krön and Kallaste, unpublished manuscript, 2011.
330
Conservation Resources UK Ltd., L2 Archival Interleaving Tissue, accessed February 20,
2013 http://www.conservation-resources.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_
info&products_id=162.
331
Japico Yokohama Ltd., Our products – Technical Washi paper, accessed February 20,
2013 http://www.japicoyokohama.com/index.php/products/technical/.
332
Paccin – Preparation, Art Handling and Collections Care Information Network, Abaca
Tissue, accessed February 20, 2013 http://www.paccin.org/content.php?64-Abaca-Tissue.
333
Turner, The Book of Fine Paper, 21.
334
Krön and Kallaste, unpublished manuscript, 2011.
180