10.25.07
Egyptian Tent Panel
10′ x 12′ Egyptian tent panel
A reader has sent us the photo seen above. Her description of it is as follows: “This tent panel is appliquéd on four hand loomed cotton panels. The green has faded to gray.” One of her friends explained that the script is from the “Love Song of Omar Kyam,” and so this panel is probably one of many, many panels that made up a celebratory marriage tent.
One of the reader’s questions is about how best to store such an item.
My Thoughts
First of all, thank you so much for sharing a photo of this wonderful item.
Storage of large, room-size items, such as this, becomes very difficult in a home situation. Ideally, the piece would best be stored flat, rather than rolled. Rolling squishes the innermost edge.
Depending on the strength of the fibers, the panel could be secured to hang vertically, using a “museum mount” method that stabilizes all four edges. In that method, usually a rectangular (or square) frame, made of wood, and treated with several coats of polyacrylic finish, and hook and grip tape, such as Velcro, are used. A professional framer could be of further assistance. The main problem in most homes would be finding wall space large enough to hang the mounted piece.
If I remember correctly, I’ve listed more details about framing and textile care, in general, in my (free-to-read) online book, Straight Talk About Quilt Care.
From your note, I could not tell whether you wish to sell this item or if you would like to donate it somewhere, as you mention that a museum might like it. In most museums, textiles barely ever see the light of day, except in a special exhibit from time to time. Textiles are labor intensive to maintain in good shape, and museums often do not have the time or paid, qualified staff who are able to devote a lot of work in that area.
If you can see fit to do so, please consider donating this panel to a university that has a teaching program for textiles. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least four such universities who maintain extensive textile collections, teach students how to preserve, clean, and properly handle textiles, and which also share textile holdings online in databases that the general public can enjoy. I would be happy to provide specific recommendations.
I am responding to this query, in a public manner, so that more people can benefit from 1) viewing this terrific textile, and 2) hearing my advice.
Should anyone have any comment, please click on the comments button below. Please keep in mind that all comments are monitored to keep out the nut cases, but serious, well-thought ideas are always welcome here.
Patricia Cummings
Contact me personally at: pat@quiltersmuse.com
