A Tough Battle with Hanging Scroll Restoration! A Request from the United States
At our company, we handle mounting and restoration work for Japanese art such as hanging scrolls, handscrolls, framed works, folding screens, and room dividers — not only within Japan but also for clients around the world.
One of the most common challenges we face in restoration work is when extremely strong adhesives were used in a previous mounting, making the old backing paper extremely difficult to peel away. This kind of situation always requires tremendous effort.
This time, we would like to share the story of such a difficult restoration project, which came to us from a client in the United States.
Contents
A Returning Client from the U.S. Requests Restoration of Two Scrolls: a Dragon and a Calligraphy Piece
The client who contacted us this time was a repeat customer who had previously entrusted us with their scroll restoration. In recent years, we have seen a steady increase in repeat clients from all over the world, which makes us very grateful.
The two hanging scrolls sent to us for restoration were:
- A dragon painting scroll
- A calligraphy scroll
When we examined the dragon scroll, we found some signs of age and minor stains, but overall the condition was relatively good. “This should be no problem to remount,” we thought with relief.
However, when we picked up the calligraphy scroll, we immediately noticed something unusual.
The scroll felt unnaturally stiff, lacking the flexibility that a properly mounted work should have.
In most cases, this stiffness indicates that an excessively strong adhesive was used during a past remounting. Such works are extremely troublesome to restore because the old backing paper simply won’t peel off, and forcing it can damage the artwork itself. In the worst case, the restoration could even become impossible.
We carefully explained the risks and the possibility of additional costs to the client, and he kindly gave his consent to proceed.
The Restoration Work Begins
Work on the dragon scroll progressed smoothly without major issues. But as expected, the calligraphy scroll proved to be a formidable challenge. The old backing paper simply would not come off.
Since pulling too hard would damage the main artwork, we had no choice but to use our fingertips and tweezers to peel away the paper millimeter by millimeter. This required relentless patience and concentration over an extended period.
It took two craftsmen working together for several days to finally remove the old backing. By the end, we were both completely exhausted. Still, it was a major step forward, essential to giving the scroll new life.
From “Maru-style” to “Gyō-style”
Both of the original scrolls were mounted in the Maru-style, but after discussing with the client, we agreed to remount them in the more standard Gyō-style (Yamato-style), which is widely used in Japan.
Restoration Complete
At last, after much effort, the restoration was completed and both scrolls were beautifully remounted.
The calligraphy scroll in particular required extraordinary effort, but knowing that it will once again be cherished and displayed overseas made all the hard work worthwhile.
Our company continues to welcome restoration requests from both Japan and abroad. If you wish to breathe new life into your cherished hanging scrolls, please feel free to contact us. We are here to help preserve and revive your treasures.
