Gilt leather is a decorative art form mainly used for wall hangings from the middle ages onwards. A leather support covered by thin silver leaves is coated with a yellow or orange-brown oil-resin varnish, providing the gold appearance. Further decorations are applied with various oil paints, glazes and varnishes. Complex ageing processes and the sensitivity of the specific layer build-up of organic and inorganic materials make conservation a real challenge. Conservation treatments practiced in the past resulted in negative side-effects over time, such as gloss and colour change (darkening), softening of the varnish and paint layers, and stiffening of the support. Gilt leather, of which only a fraction of the original output has survived, can be considered an overlooked and endangered part of our cultural heritage. Following an interdisciplinary expert meeting and research project (2016), this review discusses the most important conservation challenges, points out research directions and presents strategies for improved conservation treatments.@en

Das 17. und 18. Jahrhundert gilt als „Goldenes Zeitalter“ des Goldleders in den Nord- und Südniederlanden. Obwohl dieses Material einst ähnlich berühmt war wie die Delfter Keramik, ist unglücklicherweise viel davon verloren gegangen. Gründe dafür sind Renovierungen, Materialzersetzungen und fehlendes Wissen über konservatorische Behandlungsmöglichkeiten. Technische Kunstwissenschaftler, Restauratoren und Wissenschaftler arbeiten gemeinsam daran, diese Objekte und ihre kulturelle Bedeutung für zukünftige Generationen zu erhalten. The ‘Golden Age’ for gilt leather in the Northern and Southern Netherlands was in the 17th and 18th centuries. Unfortunately much of this material, even though it once had a similar fame to Delftware, has been lost through a variety of factors, including renovations, material degradation and limited knowledge in applying conservation treatments. The current generation of (technical) art historians, conservators and scientists are working together to ensure the preservation of these objects and their cultural meaning for future generations. @en

Due to its sensitivity, the conservation and upkeep of gilt leather is often underestimated. It can sincerely be considered as endangered cultural heritage. This publication describes the current state of knowledge from the perspectives of Technical Art History, Material Dynamics, Conservation and Diagnostics, and sets out research directions for 2017-2025.@en