Dordrecht Lenghenhof - Restoration of the gilt leather ensemble from the Regentenkamer

The gilt leather ensemble in the Regent's Room, dating from 1755, is a prime example of the Rococo or Louis XV style. It includes gilt leather wallpaper that covers nearly all four walls. Between 2017 and 2018, this ensemble was treated at the SRAL studios in Maastricht.

Composition of gilt leather

The gilt leather wallpaper is more than just a wall decoration; it is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and beauty. The pictorial layers on calfskin demonstrate remarkable technique and meticulous attention to detail.

Each strip of gilt leather, approximately 2.50 meters long, is hand-painted and meticulously joined to create a seamless surface that covers the entire wall. The design features winding tendrils, floral garlands, and graceful birds that repeat along the strips, with each panel displaying subtle variations in color and shape.

The process begins with assembling sheets of calfskin, which are then coated with silver leaf and covered with a thick resin lacquer to achieve a golden sheen. Artists then apply a basic sketch and stamp relief patterns around the design, breaking up the metal’s even sheen and enhancing reflections.

The scene is then painted using oil paint, with multiple layers and color effects applied, including transparent glazes to achieve depth and vibrancy. Finally, partial gloss layers are added to create subtle variations between matte and glossy surfaces.

The result is a masterpiece of light and color, where the interplay of metallic effects and reflections allows the artwork to be admired at any time of day, even in minimal light.

The set of pictorial layers creates an interplay of various metallic effects, matte and gloss paint layers, and partial varnish layers. The originally intended effects are clearly visible in the following views: normal light, ultraviolet fluorescence, and two shots under string lights.

Restoration treatment

The gilt leather wallpaper, comprising 17 strips and covering approximately 27 m², underwent meticulous treatment at SRAL. The wallpaper was carefully documented before, during, and after the treatment process.

Dust was gently removed from the surface using soft brushes, followed by the cleaning of the dirt deposits. After cleaning, it was observed that some areas of the gold lacquer and silver leaf had discolored, resulting in an uneven gold effect. To address this, retouches were applied to restore uniformity to the gold background.

Significant deformations around newly created cracks or old repairs were corrected by lightly moistening the leather from the back and drying it under pressure. New cracks were reinforced with patches applied from the reverse side.

Following the restoration, the gilt leather was reinstalled in the Regents' Room using a custom suspension system.