A 17th Century Tent from the Armory at Graz

1. A view up at the curved end of the tent. Decorative diagonal stripes of the valance are visible. The canopy is pulled over the modern frame in an unlikely way. One of the side seams is visible.


2. A view of the curved end of the canopy, showing the cut of the gores. Note that they terminate broadly, rather than in points, and a separate piece of fabric completes the shape.


3. Curved end of the tent, showing the repair at the lower edge of wall. Note that the panels are parallel sided. The tailoring happens through the addition of a centrally located triangular gore, which is not visible here.


4. Another view of the curved end.


5. Looking up at the "eaves" in the middle of the straight section of the side, near the door opening.(negative flipped)


6. A part of the wall is turned back to form the door, and two toggles share a suspensory loop.


7. A view of the "eaves" from the inside. Note how the cords of the toggles penetrate the reinforcing canvas band at the top of the wall, and are splayed out parallel to the edge and sewn down. The loops are sewn to canopy, at the place where the valance is attached. Above this "shoulder" the inside of the canopy is reinforced by a broad band of striped canvas.


8. The juncture of two side panels using loops and toggles (negative flipped).


9. Attachment of walls to the canopy. Part of the wall has been folded back to form the door, which is bare visible on the left. (The toggle spacings do not always seem to work out) The diagonal stitching which is visible below and to the left of the toggle is the back side of a valance stripe (negative flipped)


10. The guy rope attaches to the "eave" of the canopy. It passes through a reinforced hole and a wooden "washer" and terminates in a knot. (negative flipped)


11. Reinforcing canvas band at end of wall panel. The door opening is on the left, and a guy rope can be seen.


12. The broad, striped canvas band that reinforces the lower part of the canopy, seen from the inside of the tent.


13. Stitching on the inside of a seam.


14. I think it's the edge of the door opening. I think I was probably trying to show the fabric turned back at the edge, and the heavy canvas band sewn over the edge.


15. View of an unused loop (over the doorway?)The markings on the canopy correspond to ones on the walls. (negative flipped)

These black and white photographs were taken by Robert MacPherson when the tent was on exhibit in Hull, Ottawa. The comments above are his.

It was set up on a modern internal frame for display, allowing a reduced footprint for the guy ropes.