Flags from Confederate Ships

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Sister

Sister

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
Posts
945
Loc
Alabama
:eek: Please read my sig line. Today is that one day--this is the day for hysteria. I've got a huge task ahead of me, but being the positive, optimistic person that I am, I can do it with your help. I wasn't about to say, "No," because 1) I love a challenge, and 2) I have the best resources on The G for situations like this.

A customer brought in four Confederate Warship Flags. The largest one is going to be oversized to say the least, approximately 9' x 3'. The customer wants the flag lined with matching fabric so the appearance of the holes is minimized when mounted on the back mat (I've matched the fabrics with Raphael's and Harvey's).

My idea is to cover an underlying mat with the lining fabric; then, sew the flag to the undermat. The undermat can then be adhered to the substrate.

Will Gatorfoam be a sturdy support for this oversized mounting? Also, I will be using UV Acrylic glazing. Is 1/4" recommended? The moulding selection will plenty sturdy for the weight.

What are your suggestions? I am going to be doing a tremendous amount of sewing on these pieces.
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If you have a source for 1/4" UV acrylic 9'x3', that would be an really good idea, though it will weigh a ton.

(Not literally, but you won't be flinging it around the shop with one hand. Get some help with it.)
 
I will definitely have some muscle helping me. What alternatives could I use in addition to sewing or instead of sewing? Any other suggestions anyone? anyone?
 
GatorFoam is a very good backing for something like this. However, I have never seen it listed in any size other than 4' x 8'. You may have to patch 2 pieces together to get the overall length.

As far as mounting, sewing is what I would do. Make sure you have enough stitches to hold the weight.

Can we see some pics after it is completed?
 
I once had a customer that brought in an 1898 U.S. flag to be mounted. We agreed on what was to be done; it was to be mounted on a piece of linen rag mat, U.V. glazing and a 1/4 in separator between the glass and the mounted flag. It was framed and the customer called. She hit the ceiling when she noticed that the flag was not a perfect rectange; it was not possible to make a nice rectangle because of the age and condition of the flag.

We cut another piece of mat board and overlaid it on the flag hiding the uneven edges.

You might want to get the clients approval on the uneven edges before you finish the package. The covering mat board did nothing for the character of the flag but she was happy.

Jack Cee
 
It is possible to make very strong splices in
Gatorfoam, using Mylar and hot melt glue. The
edges of the sheets to be joined are set next
to one another and one worker extrudes the
hot melt (industrial grade for Polygun TC) on
to the Mylar and then the other worker burnishes
the Mylar onto the joint, so that the glue
goes into it and that back of the Mylar is as
flat as possible. This process is repeated on the
other side and when the glue is cool, a very
strong joint should result.

Hugh
 
Hugh, would the Gatorfoam itself be a concern?

My understanding is that only glass or metal would be a true barrier if the Gatorfoam is not a material you'd want in the package.
 
Small Corp makes beautiful aluminum honeycomb panels for backboards. They also make welded corner aluminum frames, and the back strainer can be braced to provide more rididity.

http://www.smallcorp.com/

The flags might be good candidates for press mounts. No sewing, but a lot of backboard prep.

This gives the general idea: http://64.180.110.181/preview/Conservators/02-2004/conservation02-2004.html

Pressmounts give gentle, even support, and are used for the display and storage of military banners in major institutions throughout the US.

I recently completed a major project, making pressmounts for 11 military banners.

If you are interested, and have specific questions, e-mail me.

Rebecca
 
According to Pam Hatchfield, in "Pollution in
the Museum Environment" the bad read that was
given to polystyrene foam boards was not well
researched. That leaves the polymer that was used
to stiffen the facing paper of the Gator foam as the major concern,but the choice to leave such antique textile in a frame that is kept in the light has entails acceptance of so much damage to the textile, from light exposure, that such concerns pale (excuse the pun) by comparison. The kind of system that Rebecca mentioned is used as a storage vessle for flags that are stored in the dark, but it is hard to imagine a private client going for that option. Yes, in an ideal package,
the flag would be supported with conservation
quality board, polyester batting, powdercoated
or anodized aluminum, paper honeycomb board,
arvhival polypropylene and the like.


Hugh
 
They're also used for display Hugh.

When you consider the considerable time stitching would take, and the costs involved in that, the expense for the materials involved in pressure mounts might not look so high ;) .

Lighting is also a big part of the equation, but if the display area is chosen with care, the damage can be minimized.

http://64.180.110.181/preview/conservation.html

The project I worked on has the banners displayed horizontally in a drawered case, so they are only exposed to light when a drawer is pulled out for viewing.

Rebecca
 
Thanks to all. Yes, Jerry, I will show pictures.

This customer wants as natural a mount as possible--no mat covering anything. All four flags will be on a background of natural linen. This one is a banner shape coming to a point at the end. The other three are rectangles and not as large. I will be sewing these on and will have to finish the inside as a shadowbox due to the rope and knotted end with a wooden bead.

My main concern was bowing, but it looks like Gatorfoam is the way to go with splicing. Thanks, Hugh, for the details on splicing.

The customer will be hanging all four flags as a grouping to be seen above a winding staircase--his second home!
 
Cha-ching! is right. The customer only said, "Wow, that's high!" to the quote, and then gave me the go ahead. By far, this is the largest job I have had, physically and financially. I'm excited!
 
If you are going to sew them down to linen anyway, why not build a stretcher system and stretch fiberglass screening first then wrap the linen over that.

This allows you an easy surface to stitch through that is VERY supportive.

BTW: when you go to seal the back, Cambrick backing cloth frome Frank's Fabrics, comes 54" wide.

We also have that PH neutral linen.
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888-332-2749.
 
Thanks, Baer; I will be calling I'm sure!
 
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