Antique War of Independence panoramic wallpaper installed in historic interior — War of Independence, After Restoration

In a historic home in western Pennsylvania, Scenic Wallpaper carefully restored this Zuber War of Independence wallpaper, bringing new life to a timeless work of art.

Historical Background

Zuber & Cie, the famed French manufacturer, has been hand-blocking panoramic wallpapers since the late 18th century using woodblocks carved by master artisans. Each scene is composed of hundreds of individual impressions, layered with color and texture to create sweeping landscapes alive with movement and depth. The same wood blocks are still used today.

War of Independence is among Zuber’s most iconic designs - a grand tribute to the American Revolution that captures both the artistry of its time and the enduring spirit of independence it celebrates.

Antique War of Independence wallpaper before restoration — Before Restoration

Cleaning the Wallpaper

Over the decades, the wallpaper had accumulated layers of dirt and wear. Parts of the paper had begun to lift or crack, and there were numerous areas where the original paint had faded or flaked away. Once cleaned, we re-secured each delicate section by hand to stabilize the surface and prevent further damage.

Faded sky detail before restoration of panoramic wallpaper — Before Restoration

Close-up of age-related spotting on antique wallpaper — Before Restoration

Antique wallpaper during cleaning — Cleaning In Progress

Painting the Sky

The softly graduated dégradé sky, once a defining element of the scene, had suffered significant fading and streaking, while age-related spotting was present throughout the paper, likely from an old varnish. To restore the sky’s full visual impact, our artist repainted the entire sky to match its original tone and depth, carefully recreating the gentle color transitions of the dégradé.

Antique War of Independence wallpaper after restoration — After restoration

The Details

We also retouched missing paint throughout, meticulously addressed the age-related spotting in each scene, and hand-painted two switch plates and a thermostat to blend seamlessly with the surrounding design.

Hand-painted switch plates integrated into scenic wallpaper - before — Before restoration

Hand-painted switch plates integrated into scenic wallpaper - after — After restoration

Hand-painted thermostat integrated into scenic wallpaper - before painting — Before restoration

Hand-painted thermostat integrated into scenic wallpaper - after painting — After restoration

Before and After Restoration

Close-up of age-related spotting on antique wallpaper after restoration — After restoration

Close-up of age-related spotting on antique wallpaper before restoration — Before restoration

The Finished Room

After restoration, the transformation was striking - the room regained its vibrancy, and the mural’s historic grandeur now shines once again, illuminating the space with the same elegance and clarity it offered more than a century ago.