My father captured (or, more likely, bought) a Japanese flag when he was overseas in WWII. He had all the guys in his unit sign it. It’s been folded up in my Mom’s dresser drawer since my father died. I’d like to have it framed and mounted—does anyone know anything about doing this? Could an ordinary framing store do this, or is there something in the way of cleaning/preservation that they’d need to know in order to not damage it?
Strangely enough, I happened to be switching through the channels on tv when I happened upon a home improvement show on A&E…Anyway, they were discussing a similar issue. A woman had been given the flag from her grandfather’s casket (he was a WWII vet), after his funeral. She was told to display it in a frame specifically designed to hold a folded flag. You can order a frame here.
However, these frames are intended to hold US Flags that have been folded into a triangle. I don’t know how patriotic you are, but some people might be offended to see a foreign flag folded in this manner (rather than into a regular rectangle)
Sorry. Go to that link in the above post, click on the “F” in the menu at the top, and select “Flags Cases and Preservation”.
Hmmm . . . I really don’t think I could do it myself. I’m more concerned as to whether I should take it to:
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General-purpose framing store, who could do it for a reasonable sum of money, but who might not be able to iron, mount and protect it as needed for an old flag, or,
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Museum-type store, who could do all that—for about eight skyrillion dollars. Which I do not have.
Some “regular” framing stores can probably do it… what you need to ask is if they can do “archival” framing. At minimum you’ll want acid-free everything, UV-protecting glass, and spacers that prevent the glass from actually touching the silk.
Ah! Thanks, Hello, I will print that out to save. I was hoping you’d say that, and not, “no, you have to have the Head Curator of the Met personally frame it with platinum mountings . . .”
And, a separate issue, but once you do find a method of display, please hang it/place it out of direct sunlight – its very bad for fabric – and if possible in a climate controlled room. (aka A/C in summer, heat in winter).
This is a very good guideline to handling antique textiles.
http://www.si.edu/scmre/handletex.html
You may want to seriously consider having the flag evaluated by a professional textile conservator before you mount it so that you understand its condition. This site can help you find one in your area:
http://www.aic-faic.org/guide/form.html
Truthfully working w/ a conservator will not necessarily be more expensive than dealing with a framing shop as the latter will charge you extra for all the archival mounting.
A friend of mine collects antique maps and he has them framed specially in a process where the sealed frame is filled with inert gas (argon I think).
Ah! Finally my misspent years as a picture framer come in handy. A quick look in my historic art materials handbook says that Japanese textiles of that era were almost always plant dyes with the exception of reds, which were coal-tar derived napthols. Either way that means you need acid and sunlight protection.
Okay, just about any high-end frame shop can do an archival framing job for you. First, you’ll need to choose a frame with the depth nessasary to accomodate spacers (the staff will give you a selection to choose from). You’ll probably want the flag stitched onto the board by the edges with nylon monofiliment, lightly stretching it.
Be sure to ask for “Concervation Quality” materials – not just “Acid Free” or “Archival”. Most so-called Acid Free matboards still have some wood pulp lignins that will bread down into acids over time and fade the piece. You want all-cotton board.
The glass should ultra-violet protective. “Tru-Vue” or “Conservation Clear” are both good brands. If the piece is over 32" x 40" seriously think about plexiglass as the frame might flex and break, ruining the piece (saw a lot of that over the years).
Also, beforehand, take the flag to a dry cleaner and have them test an inconspicuous corner to see if they can clean it safely. If so, get it cleaned. That will help clean out pollutants that would damage it.
What Inky says is right on. EXCEPT do not take historic flags to a Dry Cleaner.
I own a Flag Retail Store, and we have found that although Dry Cleaners can clean a flag properly (if they have someone who has done it before), more often than not, on an Historic Flag, if they screw up (and they can) there really is no way to recover the flag.
The simplest way to preserve it is the same way that Inky says. Do an “Archival Framing” under Glass (Plexiglass may emit some chemicals that may affect the composition of the flag) and have it done by someone who does it on a frequent basis.
I would contact the local Art Museum or Historical Museum for a list of qualified Framers that they use.
Congratulations on a fine piece of history.
Thanks again all—I am going to print this out and circle some stuff before making phone calls. I picked up the flag at my Mom’s this weekend, and it’s gorgeous—a big ol’ silk Rising Sun, and my Dad got all the guys in his unit to write their names and addresses on it (the ink is still in perfect shape).
“What Inky says is right on. EXCEPT do not take historic flags to a Dry Cleaner.”
—Hmmm . . . So I guess dumping it in the washing machine is out, right? Or putting it through my 19th-century Laundry Mangler?