Mounting Very Old Fabric

[FrameOfMind]

I have an old painted cloth fabric from India, that a customer wants to float, and use spacers so that the glass doesn't touch the art. He's very concerned about conservation as am I. Any suggestions on what fabric adhesive I could use that won't damage the art. I don't want to use mylar bc of the reflective sheen it has.

 

[auntiesarahjayne]

I'd sew it down.

 

[RoboFramer]

old painted cloth fabric .......conservation ..... adhesive

Danger Will Robinson!

Sticking down is not a conservation/preservation option - and if mylar is a problem due to reflection then what about stabiltex? (Put that into the search facility - loads of info)

 

[Ylva]

I'd sew it down.

Ditto!

 

[nikfrz]

Can you post pictures of it? You might get more responses.

 

[Framar]

Invisimount is like non glare mylar. Only it is one of the polys.

Or sew it if it is able to be sewed.

 

[CAframer]

In addition to options already mentioned (sewing, mesh overlay, 601 Invisi-Mount), you could also consider (a) changing the design i.e. so that it is not floated - which would open up a number of additional mount options, (b) a press mount, or of course (c) forgo the conservation reversibility. It all comes down to the specifics of condition and client objectives.

 

[Tom Reigle]

Without seeing your project, it sounds like something that may be either old and fragile or old and very thin like many of these painted cloth panels that have found their way from Pakistan and India over the years. In either case, I would probably back the art panel with some strong cotton backing cloth or lining canvas like you would use for relining an oil or acrylic on canvas or fragile cloth collectible. Once it is mounted onto the backing, you can stretch and lace it to a suitable backing and the lining cloth would take up the tension of lacing instead of the cloth piece in question. If you wrap it so the edges of the art cloth are wrapped around the backside of the mounting/lacing board, you could float it or do whatever you wanted with it.

You are entering into some rather tedious methods when you stitch onto lining material, depending on the condition and age of the piece if cloth art. I would do some research on the methods and procedures here in the archives before jumping in with both feet if you choose to go this direction and it is your first attempt.

Good luck.