Miniatures pose complex conservation challenges because of the different materials that were used for the paintings themselves and for their frames.
These works are outside the realm of competence of both traditional painting restorers and graphics specialists. Restoring miniature paintings requires specific expertise and knowledge because they are typically painted in watercolour on very thin sheets of parchment or ivory and set in frames made of a wide variety of materials and construction methods.
Having assessed the condition of your miniature paintings, Bernd will discuss with you possible measures for conserving and restoring the pieces. He will apprise you of the urgency of each respective measure, the result you can expect after the paintings have been treated, and a detailed estimate of the costs involved. Where required, he will order new, slightly convex glass coverings or even made-to-measure metal frames.
Bernd will be able to provide you with a rough visual assessment of the condition of your miniature paintings based on any good-quality photo(s) that you can send him by email. However, in order to conduct an in-depth, precise assessment, Bernd would have to see the original works.

Common damage
Support
Warping and Cracking of the Ivory Sheet
Ivory tends to contract slightly with time. When glued to paper, the ivory sheet therefore often deforms in a concave manner which may cause cracks in the ivory.
Silver Foil (Paillons)
Using a piece of silver foil as the backing for the ivory sheet was a common technique in miniature painting which made the ivory sheet appear brighter and heightened the contrasts in the painting. However, the black tarnishing of the silver that would occur with time would eventually cause dark stains which were visible through the ivory sheet in the transparent parts of the painting.
Paint Layer
Chipping and Flaking Layers of Paint
Due to its slight greasiness, ivory was not an ideal support for watercolour painting. If the ivory base had not been expertly prepared, the paint could form clots and eventually flake off simply due to the tension inherent in its binder (gum arabic).
Surface Dirt and Stains
Dust or dirt can settle on the painting when the frame does not fit well or when the covering glass is missing. Stains at the edge of the painting are often caused by improper cleaning of the frame, which can result in cleaning fluid penetrating into the paint.
Mould
In a humid climate with a relative humidity higher than 65 per cent, mould can grow on the paint layers of miniatures. Mould can cover the painting with fine threads and can form felt-like tufts. Some types of mould can cause brown or yellow staining of the painting.
Colour Fading
Paints using animal or vegetable ingredients were popular in miniature painting but had the disadvantage that they are sensitive to light and vulnerable to fading.
Frame
Weeping Glass
Miniatures were always protected with a glass covering which was slightly convex to prevent it from sticking to the painting. Unfortunately, many of these glass coverings were manufactured using a process that involved too much alkaline material. The result is ‘weeping glass’, whereby the covering glass develops a fine mist of droplets on its inner surface.
Legal notice: © 2022, Atelier Bernd Pappe, Felsenaustrasse 17, CH-3004 Bern, Telephone.: +41 (0)31 302 77 45; Email: bernd.pappe@bluemail.ch
Header Image: Marie Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Self-Portrait, 1817 (Detail), The sitter's face is covered with mould. Fasanerie Castle, Eichenzell, inv.-no. FAS I 365/10, Image at the bottom: Miniatures during treatment in Bernd's studio, Photo: Bernd Pappe