Antique Wallpaper - brittle and dry

I have no knowledge to offer, but...
How interesting. Do people frame the designs? Or actually put them on walls, if they're in good enough shape)? So you're trying to reconstitute them. If nobody has ideas, maybe you do little experiments and break off parts and do such stuff as steam them over boiling water? Actually dunk some in water?
Here are some actual sites that actually seem to make some crimes (Googled restoration antique wallpaper).
https://www.google.com/search?q=rej...UIBSgA&dpr=1#q=restoration++antique+wallpaper
Good luck!

 

You're so welcome!

 

Do you have a local historical site near by? Maybe call them and ask their advice?

 

If they are "famous" style patterns, it's possible that the original are worth a lot because these can then be reproduced accurately. Are there any makers marks on the backsides?

Anyway Book, try to photograph a small portion and send them off to wallpaper manufacturers. There is one "B&B" that used to send me their sample catalogs of reproductions of their own originals. Well at any rate, don't let them go too cheap.

 

If those are high acid papers, you may be stuck. Acid eats paper eventually and turns it into dust. You could get hold of some de-acidifying spray/treatment from an art supply store or archival place and see what happens.

 

I don't know about wallpaper, but I've soaked printed paper from the late 1800s without a problem.

I let the paper sit in cool water first and then let the pieces air dry on paper towels. When they were just very slightly damp, I layered them in paper towels and put heavy books on top so they'd dry flat. They all came out fine.