PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Historic types of wallpaper and decorative schemes of interiors
This chapter will focus on the principles of historic wall decoration,
with an emphasis on the use of wallpapers from the middle
of the 18th century until the beginning of the 20th century.
However, since there is no need to retell the whole history of
wallpaper, only the types of wallpaper represented among
the objects of research are examined comprehensively. As the
material preserved in Estonia is rather scarce, it is necessary
to centre the chapter on the wall decoration principles used in
three trend-setting European countries: England, France and
Germany.
To fill the gaps left by the chapter, there is a plan to compile
didactic material on the history of wallpaper for students
as well as professionals working with historic interiors in Estonia.
Besides providing a better understanding of the history of
wallpapers in Europe, it will offer deeper insight into the use
of wallpapers in local interiors. The information will provide a
basis for the comparison of analogues and help to develop conceptions
for preserving historic wallpapers.
The decision to choose the given period of time was dictated
by numerous factors, primarily by the ages and types of the wallpapers
conserved, either independently or under the supervision
of Markus Krön, during the four last years. Since the oldest
objects, the hand-coloured Chinese wallpapers from the Esterházy
Palace, date back to the middle of the 18th century, the chapter
begins by describing the use of wallpapers in Rococo interiors.
In addition, special attention is given to chinoiserie wall covers.
Subsequently, an overview of paper wall covers and decorative
schemes of the 19th century is given, as most of the conserved
objects date back to that particular century. The chapter ends
with a short overview of the use of paper wall covers at the
beginning of the 20th century. Additionally, a short description
of wall covers before the 18th century is given.
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