PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Task of conservation. Case studies
dom pile of papers. Since the room was not documented before
dismounting the wallpaper, there is no photographic evidence
of its former condition nor of the original method of mounting.
However, according to observation, the wallpaper had been pasted
directly onto the plastered wall and embellished with wooden
and metal knobs, which had left holes in the wallpaper.
Similarly to the previously described Zirbenstube wallpaper,
only fragments of the Wappentapete had survived, which means
that they had lost their visual and physical integrity. (Fig. 125)
Due to their non-repeating design and lack of information, it was
impossible to re-create the wholeness of the decoration.
It was decided to conserve it instead. Thus after cleaning,
consolidation and lining, it was remounted onto a wall covered
with an acid-free lining paper. 420 (Fig. 126)
Since it was not possible to determine the original sequence
of the segments and there was not enough material to cover all
four walls, the fragments were mounted next to each other on
two neighbouring walls. As the walls were going to be covered
with panelling, it was decided to add some additional protection
to the locations where holes for screws would be drilled. The
spots were pasted over with 4 × 4 cm patches of thick Japanese
tissue (36 g/m 2 ). (Fig. 127) This reduced the extent of the damage
caused by drilling, which tends to tear the delicate material
of wallpaper.
Since the wallpaper was not going to be exhibited, it was
not necessary to retouch it. The conserved wallpaper fragments
were returned to their original location and not to a museum at
the request of the Austrian Federal Monuments Office, which
insisted on preserving the wallpaper in its original location. However,
since the appearance of the wallpaper was not considered
aesthetic by the owners of the building, it was decided to cover
up the wallpaper. The decision was a compromise between two
opposing parties with different expectations. (Fig. 128)
420
Mal- Zeichenpapier, 55cm × 10m, 90g/m 2 , Staufen-Demmler GesmbH&Co KG.
240