Sailcloth

Regarding Janine Wardius' source request for a wide lining canvas:

I have a Yes and No, short and long answer. Short answer, yes, art
et conservation makes a linen look polyester canvas, code product:
SU112-211, description: AC221, 320cm wide, 50m long.  As of May 31,
1999 they did not have the 320cm width available for sale, but the
224cm width was available at that time (code product: 24002242,
description: AC242).  I have great hopes that demand from many
conservators for the wider width might inspire them to make another
run of the wider fabric. It may already be available again, it is
certainly worth a try.  As of our last communication in November,
the company listed two addresses (I think they just moved or are
moving):

    Art et Conservation
    33 avenue Trudaine

        73-75 rue Rateau
        93120 la Courneuve

    75009 Paris, France
    email: artetco [at] aol__com
    +33 1 48749582
    Fax: 33 1 42803538

Long answer: In '95 we purchased the most wonderful linen look
polyester canvas in a 320cm width from art et conservation.  Just
stiff enough, just flexible enough, it had fabulous working
properties and was beloved by all.  When we attempted to re-order a
year or so later, we were disappointed to receive a slightly
different, "updated" version of the cloth--the product number was
the same, they had tweaked the product to meet suggestions by
conservator/clients (drat!).  The new fabric was still very
acceptable (we just liked the old better) with one major complaint
being that, even if primed first with Beva D-8, Beva 371 penetrated
making the fabric look blotchy and dark from the reverse after a
lining--and one minor complaint being that it was softer, with more
drape than the original we had grown to love.  We still considered
it the best thing going, grew accustomed to it and began the
re-order process again last May when we were devastated to find that
they had tweaked again AND that the 320cm width was not available at
that time.  Quoting from the letter from the charming and helpful
(and extremely tolerant of our laughable French) Miss Favrel,
Secretary of Art et Co., "Ref. 24240000 does not exist any more.
There is a new quality (AC242 ref. 24002242) available in 224 cm
width.  We have no fixed plan for 320cm fabric.  We will inform you
as soon as possible."

On the positive side, the new roll is stiffer and more like our
original favorite than the last roll.   Meanwhile, until we can get
the 320cm again,  all of us here are praying for small paintings...

Montserrat Le Mense
Associate Conservator of Paintings
Williamstown Art Conservation Center


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:39
                 Distributed: Monday, January 10, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-39-007
                                  ***