Hi Beth,
by some eery coincidence I am also preparing a quilt exhibition where one of the quilts will be seen from both sides.  I canvassed by colleagues last week for ideas and the following were mentioned:
1. A hexalite board that has a large window cut out, which makes the board effectively a frame, that is then covered in the cover-fabric for the gallery on both sides. The object is then stitched to the board on one side and can be viewed from both sides although not in its entirety on the back. It could then be framed with perspex on both sides or be enclosed in a perspex box. 
2. Double-sided mounts for some small tapa cloth samples using two sheets of thick melinex to make a pocket by stitching on three sides.  This was slid inside a frame (made of card I think but you could use something stronger) which held all sides in place. It works very well for small pieces, but working it up to a larger scale may be difficult, especially to hold the quilt in place. 
3. Can it have an extension (fabric) on the top edge and hang in a free standing case?
4. Have some plexi/perspex drilled with tiny holes and sew the quilt directly on.

I think I will be using the hexalite board idea, though I may use Alucabond (Dibond in the UK) instead of Hexalite to make a slimmer mount.  Two people came up with this same system independently.  The quilt I'm mounting is unfinished and the curator wishes to show the paper templates on the reverse, but if you wish to show the entire back and front of the quilt some sort of free-hanging system might be better.

My apologies to my colleagues for quoting them out of context.

Joanne Hackett
V&A

>>> Beth Szuhay <[log in to unmask]> 20/03/2009 18:13 >>>
We have a quilt show in the making that involves displaying some so that
both sides are visible.  We have discussed Plexi clamps across the top and
stitching a fabric extension across the top as possible methods to achieve
this.  Does anyone have any other methods to suggest?
Thanks,
Beth Szuhay
Associate Conservator, Textiles
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco


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