New: Painted Faux Wood on Furniture and Wooden Objects (in German)

Faux wood finishing is among the earliest decorative techniques applied to wooden objects and has survived to the present day. During its heyday in the nineteenth century, it enjoyed widespread popularity across social classes and national borders, shaping the appearance of furniture, interior furnishings, and outdoor objects alike. Faux wood decorations were executed using a variety of techniques, many of which now require conservation or restoration.

Course Content

This course explores the history of faux wood painting as well as other methods of imitating wood on wooden objects. In addition to an introduction to the paints, pigments, and tools employed in faux wood finishing, participants will gain insight into the first comprehensive analysis of historical sources documenting the technical aids developed to facilitate the application of these decorative finishes. Following an overview of the examination and condition assessment of wooden objects with faux wood decoration, and a discussion of common forms of deterioration, the course concludes with an introduction to the conservation and restoration of faux wood finishes.

The Modules

• The first module begins with a definition of the term and summarizes the objects and surfaces on which faux wood painting was applied. It introduces you to the most important German-language literature on the subject.
• The second module explains the significance of faux wood painting in various cultural periods and places changes in painting techniques within their historical context.
• The third module introduces you to the most common tools used in faux wood painting through photos and short video clips featuring Stefan Michels, M.A., so that you can clearly understand their application and handling. Furthermore, the pigments and binders most frequently used in faux wood painting are explained, supplemented by a table of important historical recipes.
• In the fourth module, you will be shown the steps involved in the most widely used technique, and the most commonly imitated wood species will be listed. You will learn about the tools and techniques that simplified the application of paint toward the end of the 19th century.
• As a side note, Module 5 shows you the range of other methods used to imitate wood on wooden objects up until the early 20th century—from wood stains to decals. These are also important because they are sometimes related to faux wood painting.
• Module 7 explains which conservation investigations of faux wood painting can be performed without taking samples, and which tools are used. In addition, the most important investigations involving sample collection are demonstrated, particularly the purely phenological (visual) analysis of cross-sections.
• The eighth module introduces you to the typical damage phenomena found on objects with faux wood painting. It addresses both damage processes inherent to the material and external causes of damage.
• In Module 9, various approaches to the restoration of objects with painted imitation wood are discussed, and guidelines for conservation and restoration are established based on these discussions.
  A handout for use in restoration practice rounds out the course.

The Author

Dipl.-Rest. Christina Duhme, M.A. studied at HAWK in Hildesheim, in the Faculty of Architecture, Engineering and Conservation, specializing in furniture and wooden objects. During her freelance career, she worked as a lecturer at HAWK Hildesheim and the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart. She runs her own studio and deals with many different objects in her daily professional practice, including faux wood finishes. She is the co-author of the course “Wood Technology: Properties - Uses - Damage - Examination and Analysis".

Contact

Please direct any related queries to fortbildung@hornemann-institut.de