Mounting a Fan

[FramingFool]

Enter a customer with a silk 19th century fan inlaid with ivory; very fragile, very rare.

It'll go into a fan case.

The Problem: What's the best way to mount it?

 

[Jana]

Is it a folding fan? Is it possible to sew it around the handle or the supports to secure it? Perhaps you could mount it that way to rag or suede mat board.

 

[sherry gray]

A few months ago I framed six fans, 3 in each frame... all ivory or silk and all pretty old, but in good shape. We sewed them to suede matboard, only needed a few stitches to keep them secure.

 

[Jim Miller]

We agree that you should sew the fans in place. I suggest cotton thread, which is less abrasive than threads with synthetic content.

Make plenty of stitches, and carefully consider where you place them. The idea is to provide overall support for the fragile object, and not put stresses on it.

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Jim Miller, CPFcm; GAFP Committee Member