Originally posted by Bandsaw:
...This is old and the sewing threads are not strong...
I've never seen anything like that, so I'm guessing here. It seems that weak threads could be a big problem. Is this thing strong enough to support its own weight? More important, will it continue to weaken and eventually fall apart?
If the threads are strong enough to assure safe support, I might try lacing over the threads between the beans. Would perhaps a few dozen stitches would hold it securely?
If it is too weak to mount by its threads, then the wedding veil fabric Patrick was trying to mention is nylon
tulle.
That might show more than you wouldf like so maybe Stabiltex (polyester) or Crepeline (silk organdy) fine mesh fabrics would do better.
Or, brainstorming a bit here, maybe you could have an acrylic fabricator cut a square to fit the item's shape from a frame-sized piece of clear acrylic. That could be used as a transparent sink mount, spaced off the backing board by about 1/2". A piece of Optium Acrylic or Melinex 516 could be used as a cap to keep it from falling out of its acrylic sink, with shadowbox sides to create at least 1/4" air gap between that and the final glazing.
One more thought: How about having an acrylic box made to precisely fit the whole thing, with an appropriate backing board? Strips of black acrylic, perhaps 1/4" w x 3/8" h, bonded to the outside of the open edges, could hold the acrylic box in the frame. That assembly could be mounted inside a larger frame, if other items or decorative features are involved.
This kind of project is always fun. Go for The Gold, Bandsaw.