PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Introduction
OBJECTS OF RESEARCH
Eight historic wallpapers in different stages of decay were chosen
as the objects of research for the thesis. The conservation
was carried out either independently or under the supervision
of one of the tutors, Markus Krön from the Institut für Papier
Restaurierung in Vienna, during the four last years.
The objects will be mentioned in the order they were dealt
with:
– The wallpaper in the Puurmani manor dining room,
Estonia
– Three wallpapers in the Freyschlössl in Austria
(under the supervision of Markus Krön)
– the Zirbenstube wallpaper
– the Wappentapete wallpaper
– the Schablonentapete wallpaper
– An embossed wallpaper in the Theodor Aman
Museum, Romania (under the supervision of Markus
Klasz)
– Two chinoiserie wall covers from the Esterházy Palace,
Austria (under the supervision of Markus Krön)
– Hand-painted Chinese wallpaper panels
– Hand-painted silk wall covers
– The wallpaper in the Estonian Literary Museum,
Estonia
The objects were chosen for the following reasons. Firstly, each
of them represents a different issue concerning the preservation
of historic wall covers in interiors. The issues exemplify the four
main concepts of contemporary conservation practice: preservation,
restoration, conservation and reconstruction. Secondly,
the objects were in different stages of decay, which provided
the author with the opportunity to describe the basic conservation
methods applied to historic wallpapers. Thirdly, the chosen
objects not only involved different conceptions of preservation,
but also represented various types of historic wallpapers and
decorative schemes.
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