Old wallpaper

[MDE]

I have a built-in shell cupboard dating from the 18thC. The planked back (i.e. below the "shell" section) had been covered with woodchip paper and painted. I finally decided to remove the woodchip to reveal the original wood. However, as with all things in old houses, it is never as simple as that! I found that there were multiple layers of wallpaper under the woodchip. The bottom layer appears to my untutored eye to be a rather nice hand-painted paper. Now I don't know what to do! If anyone can point me in the direction of some advice on this, I would be most grateful. In particular:-
- How can I identify the paper?
- I have been carefully peeling away the newer layers of paper to reveal the old one, without using steam, water or chemicals and have made some decent progress. Is this the right way to do it and what do I do if I get stuck?
- What do I do if only some of the paper is restorable?

 

[Penners]

I don't know whether these will be any help....

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/wallpap/wallpap.htm

http://www.wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk/

 

[MDE]

Thanks Penners, the links were interesting, if not directly helpful. I have now made some more progress and the old paper is not complete. From what I can see, the Philistine who put on the woodchip "prepared" the surface beforehand by partly scraping off old paper, so that in some places there are several layers of paper, while in others the woodchip is pasted direct onto the old paper or even the bare boards. Where there are several layers of paper, restoration is easier (presumably old glues were weaker) as the painted surface allows separation (albeit losing a little pigment). Where the woodchip is directly glued to the old paper, it is harder to remove - I am guessing because of the modern glue. I'll continue to work on it dry and then try a little water on some stubborn bits.