Dekorative und funktionale Verwendung von Papier auf Möbeln und Holzobjekten

Abstract

Decorative and functional use of paper on furniture and wooden objects

Furniture and wooden objects often incorporate paper, either for decorative reasons using printed, marbled, and painted paper, metal paper or brocade paper, or for functional purposes like dustcovers and labels. Paper is usually adhered directly to wood, which can result in severe damage. Exposure to light and dust, unstable relative humidity, and wood acidity all contribute to the deterioration of the paper structure. The movement of wood in variable relative humidity can tear or distort paper. Furniture use can cause signs of age like abrasion or discoloration but also damage such as tears or losses. We will give an introduction to the wide variety of papers used on wooden surfaces of furniture, musical instruments or interiors. Further we will present an overview of typical types of damage and treatment solutions, using a range of objects in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and private collections. This paper will summarize various methods of examination including polarized light microscopy, infrared and ultra-violet imaging and radiography. Drawing on paper conservation, solutions to treating paper in situ will be presented as well as possible treatment difficulties that could arise. The limitations in handling delicate paper surfaces require an interdisciplinary approach involving knowledge and techniques used in both paper and furniture conservation.