PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Documentation of the work on the Puurmani Manor
well preserved and could sustain mechanical treatment,
e.g.dry cleaning.
The surface of wallpaper is covered with spider-webs, loose
surface dirt, splashes of chalk paint, random oily marks
(e.g. candlewax).
The wallpaper was heavily damaged by humidity on the walls
1 and 2 (see Figure 163). It was rotten, billowy and had been
partially detached from the wall. Because of the brittelness of
the adhesive, wallpaper, border and lining-paper could be
detached from each other easily. Pigments have faded and
paper had become brittle. One could see damage caused by
insects (holes and tunnels ) and a foamy matter left by a mold.
The surface of plaster was covered with dark spots caused by
the growth of mold.
There are several losses in the wallpaper on the walls 1, 2, 5,
6, 8 and 14 (see Figure 163). They could be filled with
wallpaper fragments removed from the wall (e.g. fragments
behind the supraportes) or with reconstructions. Occasionally
one could notice smaller losses and damages, e.g. nailholes,
cracks, furrows and superficial damages.
There are several deep holes along the upper edge of the
wallpaper and on the surface between windows. They
have been made to install a wooden dado or pipes. Wallpaper
and border have been mechanically damaged around these
areas, there are great losses. (See the maps of damage,
Figures 164–168).
Wallpaper has been completely destroied on the walls 11
and 12. They need to be covered with reconstructed
wallpaper, border and one-coloured paper strip.
Borders on the walls 1–6 and 14 have large cracks. Borders
have been heavily damaged by the installation of pipes. There
are only fragments of wallpapers, that have been framing the
wallpaper from the side. Borders on other walls are in a good
condition.
There is only one original decorative corner-piece. One could
find it on the wall 14.
One-coloured paper strip is in a poor condition. Its surface
had been mechanically and biologically damaged. Gradual
water and mold damage had left its surface patchy.
Summary / overall rating of the object’s state:
* Wallpaper is largely well preserved, but there is also rather
damaged areas (molded, patchy, mechanically damaged,
covered with colour splashes etc.).
Borders have been maintained satisfactorily. Some of the
strips need to be dismounted. Part of them could be restored
in a workshop; part of them need to be replaced with
reconstructions.
One-coloured paper strips are badly damaged or completely
destroied. For the best result, all of them need to be replaced
with a reconstruction.
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