The gilt leather wall hangings from the bedroom of Louis van Heeswijk in Castle Heeswijk were lying for 19 years in the attic of the castle. In 2014 director Jacqueline Kerkhoff gave RNA the task of restoring and fitting the gilt leather wall hanging back on the wall in the bedroom Jonker Louis. The 18th century gilt leather with red flowers, vines and leaves, was dehydrated and while stored covered in dust. Fortunately, the students of the SRAL in 1994 made an excellent documentation of the leather wall hanging. The surface was cleaned on site and the gilt leather was transported to the workshop of RNA in Amsterdam for conservation.
In the workshop in Amsterdam all cracks and holes have been repaired with new leather. The new leather was pared, colored and embossed to resemble the old leather.
The leather wall hanging was purchased per block around 1885 and placed in the room. The walnut wood paneling that is visible around the leather, is probably a 19th century imitation of a 17th century original.
We have designed flexible suspension behind the leather wall hanging to ensure that there is always a slight tension on the leather. When there are climate changes going on in the castle (which is not climatised) the flexible suspension will captures the natural expansion and contraction of the leather. The climate influences have been monitored before and after hanging the gilt leather wall hanging.