Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/100

78 backgrounds for certain XVIII and XIX century objects.

If the wall is sheathed with wood, the textile whatever it may be, will need to be lined, otherwise the dirt will collect in the cracks of the wood and gradually show through in streaks. A cotton lining is best, but if too expensive, paper may be used.

Pattern is a very serious consideration. A certain amount of inequality in the weave of the material enhances its value as a background because the light and shade that comes with an uneven surface makes the color less constant, and, therefore adapted to a larger number of objects, but where the pattern is too large it becomes obtrusive and suggests the landscape wall-paper used by our Colonial ancestors which was never meant as a background but which, on the contrary, in itself decorated the room.

Velvet makes an interesting wall covering, but it is a great care, especially if exhibitions are to be changed frequently. Should the museum Director choose a velvet, he must be careful that the pile is short, as otherwise the marks made by the frames will be very conspicuous. Also, a velvet with a short pile is easier to keep clean, as the dust clings to a long pile and is almost impossible to brush off. A velvet wall covering should be