HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION

ATELIER BILLIET


When restoring is no longer possible, recontstruction can be an option. Together with the restorer I examin the best way to make irreparable damage visually less painful, keeping in mind the vision of the restoration. Based on the information at hand, I advise on the possibilities of surface reconstruction and what (contemporary) materials and techniques are at disposal to do so. This includes pattern reconstruction and wallpaper sample analysis.


Design Process & Reproduction

Copy by hand:
For Historical Reconstruction, studies and sketches are made on paper first. This drawing is then painted full size using gouache or watercolour. It serves as a visual guideline for further reconstruction (or reproduction) but can also be used as artwork for educational purposes or for conservation reasons.

Digital Restoration:
In some cases the design process is completely digital. Starting from a high resolution photo I perform a ‘digital restoration’. From the digital file I remove, by hand, all stains, dust, damage and imperfections. Beveled edges or missing parts are completed. If it is a seamless repeat, then I make it matching again.
The result is a high resolution digital file suitable for reproduction or reference work in data bases.


Repetitive output:
Both types of design, digital or analogue, can further be technically finalized for any output technique such as weaving, blockprinting, silk screen printing, stenciling, ... 

One-off pieces:
To recreate one-off pieces from surfaces that can’t be saved I invent new output methods. This option is often chosen due to a lack of original materials or techniques, but also for budgetary reasons.
The result is a reproduction or insertion/addition that matches in color, look and tactility with the original and is always supervised by the resoration team.



Completing missing motifs





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GOOD TO KNOW

The completion of patterns found on remnants of wallpaper and textiles is an important part of my work.
I have a personal archive of over 5000 period drawings and documents to guide me in this quest.

Wallpaper sample analysis

Recognizing a technique does not mean one can reproduce it. From (wall)paper left overs on a wall I determine the order of the decoration steps.
Very often a combination of techniques was used to achieve the end result. Making it a very fascinating study!

My analysis also include the research for the colours used during each step and thus appointing colour and layer to each other. This reconstituted pallet is then transformed into usable inks and is the starting point of a reconstruction sample.

The information I unravel from the analysis also helps to determine an approximate production date and gives us a view of the labour involved in making these products.
 

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CONTACT INFO

Atelier Billiet BV
Margot Billiet
Gouden-Boomstraat 5
8000 Brugge

margot@atelierbilliet.be

+32 (0)473 851 627

BTW BE0768.654.130

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