PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Methodological conclusions
the large chinoiserie panels, the decorative scheme of the small
silk paintings could also be considered unstable.
If the plan is to remount a wallpaper, finding a room with
matching dimensions may be the most demanding task. To fit
an existing amount of material within the dimensions of a new
room, often a compromise solution needs to be found. In such
a case, either a segment of original material should be removed
or additional material should be added. The additional material
may be a reconstruction of a patterned wallpaper. However, to
preserve a certain degree of authenticity, the original should be
distinguishable from the reconstruction.
A wallpaper preserved in an archive loses a part of its original
function. Although it may be preserved in a proper environment
and monitored regularly, access to it is minimized. Furthermore,
either separate fragments or large over-sized objects can
provide the observer with information about a certain printing
method, stylistic appearance and used materials, but seldom
offer a complete understanding of the original setting.
To ensure the stability and longer existence of conserved
wallpapers, it is necessary to preserve them in a proper environment
that controls for temperature, amount of UV light and
relative humidity. It is important to avoid improper maintenance
conditions that may cause further damage. Since the main damage
to wallpapers is caused by human activity, it is necessary to
increase public awareness of the importance of historic wallpapers.
In Estonia, not only common people, but also specialists
working with historic interiors need to be educated about the
importance of wallpapers, as well as various options to preserve
them in interiors.
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