Our digital restoration process

In partnership with museums and cultural institutions, Le Grand siècle reproduces wallpapers from the 18th and 19th centuries. Our drawings and patterns are not "inspired" by the wallpapers of these periods, but are drawings that have already existed, exactly in this form and that we have digitally restored. It is a way to bring to life the past through old, often damaged, fragile and precious wallpapers. We have developed a real expertise in digital reconstruction and restoration.

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THE 3 STEPS BEFORE THE RE-EDITION OF OUR WALLPAPERS

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1. THE SELECTION OF WALLPAPERS
To select our designs, we survey the storages of museums, the funds of public libraries, we visit castles, houses of writers or historical characters, various cultural places. Treasures are also hidden in private collections or in public places such as town halls or prefectures. This phase of selection is very long but it is certainly one of the most exciting.

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2. THE DIGITALIZATION OF THE WORKS
We then work from existing high resolution photographs or we take them ourselves at a scale of 1:1 so as to keep the precision of the graphics of the original work. When it is a panoramic, each strip is photographed in several parts, the whole being reconstituted in fine like a puzzle. This long work imposes important logistic constraints (closing to the visits when the wallpaper is exposed, displacement of the pieces of furniture, unrolling of the paper and setting flat on a rigid support when it is in storage etc).

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3. DIGITAL RESTORATION
Once the work is digitized, we reconstitute the pattern, digitally fill in the gaps, clean the dirt, the abraded or damaged parts. In the case of panoramic wallpaper, we pay particular attention to the passages of the connections between the strips. We carry out this phase with strict respect for the works, in order to preserve their spirit perfectly. On the other hand, for each design, we keep a real liberty with regard to the "degree" of restoration and the declinations of colors.

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SERVICES OFFERED TO HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS

With this expertise in digital reconstitution/restoration, Le Grand Siècle offers a service dedicated to private owners of historical decors and public institutions who wish to preserve their original works while enjoying a wallpaper with modern technical characteristics (easy to hang, light resistant, washable, fireproof...).

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1. DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION
Starting from fragments of original wallpapers, Le Grand Siècle digitally reconstructs the patterns and panoramic wallpapers.

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2. DIGITAL RESTORATION
After having digitized all or part of the original wallpaper, Le Grand Siècle performs a digital restoration to recreate all the splendor and colors of the original pattern and to obtain a rendering as close as possible to the original work.

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3. REMOVAL OF THE ORIGINAL WALLPAPER
In partnership with qualified heritage restorers, Le Grand Siècle also offers to coordinate the removal and conditioning of the original decor for its conservation or restoration.

 

 

Exclusive creations for exceptional project

Thanks to its partnerships with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris, the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, Le Grand Siècle offers a tailor-made service for researching and restoring old wallpapers for exceptional projects.

1. RESEARCH IN MUSEUM RESERVES ACCORDING TO YOUR BRIEF
If you are looking for a motif characteristic of an era or a style (18th century, Empire, Marie-Antoinette, Art Deco...) or a specific type of motif (trimmings, drapes, trompe l'oeil...) , we will look in the reserves of our partners to offer you a choice of historical wallpapers adapted to your request. We will also provide you with information on the dating of the original wallpaper, its manufacture and its history, the opportunity to give even more depth to your project.

2. DIGITAL RESTAURATION
Once you have made your choice from our proposals, Le Grand Siècle will practice the digital restoration of the old wallpaper to recreate all the splendor and the colors of the pattern and obtain a rendering that is always as close as possible to the original work. When it's possible, we can modify certain colors.

3. MANUFACTURE ON THE COATING OF YOUR CHOICE
We have a large material library from which you can choose your coating. Wallpapers with a textile, concrete or leather effect; gold leaf wallpaper; stretched canvas etc... Your exceptional wallpaper will thus come to life on the material of your choice to create an extraordinary and unique decor.