Last Saturday we toured General Washington’s marquee tent, which was recently sewn by the tailors at Colonial Williamsburg.
TOURING THE HANDSEWN TENT
Holding my breath at each turn, I marveled at the craftsmanship of this 18th century tent!
While a masterpiece of 18th century design and function, it’s also a masterpiece of 21st century research and craftsmanship.
While the tailors were the key players, there were many supportive roles by various other CW trades, including the weaver who wove the fabric, the finials turned by the woodworks, trades for various metalwork, the leather from the leather maker….and I’m sure others that I am not aware of.
The structure of the marquee is of a tent within a tent.
It is thought that here, outside of the inner chamber, is where General Washington’s canopy bed was set up, whereas on the other side would be a sort of storage of important trunks of papers, etc.
Walking all the way around the inner chamber from the imaginary bed to the imaginary trunks on the other side, I experienced the light play through the fabric.
The inner tent was General Washington’s office, from which the light gleaming through the various seams, showcasing amazing details.
Towards the center you can just make out the mysterious seal.
Inside the Secretary’s Office, guests entered to observe each section of the tent hand stitched.
I heard that there is to be a second marquee stitched from the rolls of fabric remaining.
COMMENTS FROM MY OLD BLOG
Jessica Greyson – November 21, 2013 at 5:53 PM – Oh, thank you for posting pictures! It was so fun to see them stitching it in September and we wished we could attend it’s opening (but we live too far away). Thanks for sharing the thrills!
