The French Ministry of Culture has confirmed the temporary transfer of the Bayeux Tapestry to the United Kingdom, a 70-meter-long medieval work that narrates the Norman conquest of England. To prevent damage, the piece will travel in a capsule designed to absorb vibrations, with prior tests including route simulations. The decision has sparked controversy among conservators, who fear for the integrity of a nearly thousand-year-old textile.
Custom capsule and tests to protect the fragile embroidery 🧵
The capsule, developed by engineers specialized in art transport, will feature motion sensors and a pneumatic suspension system that isolates the tapestry from any jolts. Before the journey, tests will be conducted with a facsimile on a controlled route, measuring accelerations and humidity changes. The container will maintain a constant temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 50%, critical conditions for preserving the linen fibers and natural dyes of the embroidery.
The tapestry goes to London: let's hope William the Conqueror doesn't find out 😅
One imagines the scene: the tapestry, which depicts William invading England, now travels to London like just another tourist, but with more security than a head of state. If the embroidery could speak, it would probably say: After 950 years hanging in Bayeux, now they're taking me on a field trip. French conservators, meanwhile, have started praying there are no potholes on the highway.