The Company Papieresteur,
the professional experience of the graduate conservator Sif Dagmar Dornheim
and her publications

History of the company

The company PAPIERESTEUR was created in 2007, in order to support and to contribute to the conservation of the precious objects which are kept in museums, archives, libraries and private collections. With the help of PAPIERESTEUR, public institutions can fulfill their task to protect the cultural heritage, with no need to put up an internal conservation studio. Objects of paper, parchment, board, papyrus, papiermaché like books, graphical art, modern art, photos, maps, documents, seals, globes, paperfans, and much more, can receive a professional conservation treatment in the company's studio.

And this name?????

The company's name "Papierresteur" is a creation, made up from the main material, the German word for paper "Papier", the German abbreviation for conservator (restorer) "rest" and the French ending of many professions. The exceptional name implies not only the paper conservator's work but also stands for the international professional background of the graduate conservator Sif Dagmar Dornheim.

The Conservator Sif Dagmar Dornheim

"Before I started studying book and paper conservation at the University of Applied Sciences in Germany, I've been on a course at Guildford College of Technology studying "Fine Binding and Book Conservation". I had a great time there learning everything about the materials used for binding, how to work them and I've been introduced to such a great variety of traditional bookbinding techniques. I learned to work with gold leaf, stitch head bands, to plough book edges, and much more. These skills were and still are so valuable; I'm so thankful that I was able to spent the time there. Lateron I was able to put this knowledge of different traditional binding techniques in context with the modern science. Chemistry, physics, history of art and the knowledge of old techniques and materials form the profession of the conservator and this mixture makes this profession perfect for me."

Studies at the "Guildford College of Technology" in "Fine Bookbinding and Conservation". Degree in 1993: English diploma (with Merit). Topic of the thesis: "Songs, Poems and Miscellanea in the Bookbinding trade".

Practical training in various wellknown paper conservation workshops in Germany.

Starting in 1994, studies at the "University of Applied Sciences" in Cologne in the faculty of Culture Sciences (Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences) with the specialization in restoration of documents, graphical arts and book illumination. Practical training as part of the studies in 1996 in paper conservation workshops in Madrid, Oslo and Edinburgh. Degree in 1999: University diploma. Topic of the thesis: "Consolidation of book illumination".

Conservator of paper and books in the central conservation workshops of Erfurt, attending the graphical art collection of the Anger museum, maps and books of the municipal museum, assisting at the alternating expositions in the gallery "am Fischmarkt" and much more.

Conservator of paper and books in the central conservation workshops of the museums of Freiburg, attending the book and graphical art collection of the Augustinermuseum, the graphical art and paperobjects of the Museum of Modern Art, the archival material, maps, documents and photos of the municipal museum called Wenzingerhaus and the care for several alternating expositions in these museums.

Graduation to obtain the doctor's degree at the "Universidad Complutense" in Madrid. Achieved degree: Diploma of advanced studies; Topic of the Investigationwork: Pigments obtained from lead.

Continuation of the above mentioned graduation at the University in Madrid. Since 2007 graduation at the University of Osnabrück in Germany.

Publications of Sif Dagmar Dornheim

• English Thesis: Songs, Poems and Miscellanea in the Bookbinding Trade. Guildford College of Technology 1994
• Songs, Poems and Miscellanea in the Bookbinding Trade. In: Bookbinder, Volume Nine 1995 (Journal of the Society of Bookbinders), pp. 23-28. Index of Volume 9
• The Bookbinders’ Half–Hour Tea Strike, 1806. In: Bookbinder, Volume Ten 1996 (Journal of the Society of Bookbinders), pp. 68ff. Index of Volume 10
• Thesis of the University of Applied Sciences Cologne: "Die Restaurierung und Malschichtfestigung des Evangeliars von St. Maria Lyskirchen (11.-12.Jahrundert). Rissschließung in durch Kupferfraß geschädigten Miniaturen und Konservierung der Prachthandschrift". University of Applied Sciences Cologne 1999. Abstract (german)
• (With Robert Fuchs) Eine neue merkwürdige blaue Grünkorrosion. Die abenteuerliche Restaurierung eines Fantoccini-Theaters. In: Preprint vom 9. Internationalen Kongreß der IADA, Copenhague , 15-21 August 1999. Pp. 167-171. Article (german)
• Fragile Buchmalereien im Evangeliar von St. Maria Lyskirchen: Schadensbilder, Ursachen, Restaurierung. In: Restauro, 107.2001, pp. 206-212, 220. Article in german with english abstract (publication of the thesis)
• (With Margarita San Andrés Moya) Litargirio y Masicote. Terminología, Propiedades y Usos. Reproducción a Escala de Laboratorio de algunos de sus Procesos de Obtención. In: XV Congreso de Conservación y Restauración de Bienes Culturales, Murcia 21-24 Octubre 2004, Volume 1, pp. 533-545. ISBN 84-606-3984-3. Article (spanish)
• Über den Umgang mit Büchern. Miniaturbuch, herausgegeben vom Sammlerkreis Miniaturbuch e.V. Stuttgart 2005. ISSN 1439-1929. Publisher (some information in german with a foto)
• Die Restaurierung des Egbert-Codex. In: Der Egbert-Codex. Das Leben Jesu. Ein Höhepunkt der Buchmalerei vor 1000 Jahren. Handschrift 24 der Stadtbibliothek Trier. Herausgegeben von Gunther Franz. Faksimile Verlag Luzern, Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft Darmstadt, 2005. ISBN 3-85672-099-5. (Restoration of the book illuminations of the Codex Egberti) Pp. 219-226