cradles
Cradles can be made from a variety of materials to support books and flat objects for exhibition. We make them out of (usually white or grey) archival board, so that they can be recycled when no longer needed, if it isn’t possible to adapt them for another use.
To make a cradle, we first work with curators to decide a safe opening angle for the book, and then make it to those specific measurements, adding support where necessary. In the cradle below, that meant a sturdy but flexible Melinex strip to support the limp leather covering, which wouldn’t lie flat safely.
This cradle was made to support the book at a 45-degree angle, and includes a “foot” to support the book so that it stays in place. A textblock support piece prevents the textblock slumping to the level of the board squares. This style often helps the contents of the book be more visible, especially when displayed higher up.
This easel-style cradle was made for a book that would be displayed closed: it consists of a wedge to angle it towards the reader, and a foot to keep the book in place.
This cradle holds the book flat in the exhibition case, without angling it. This style is best suited to cases where the book will be viewed from the top or where the vertical space is narrow.
The client for this book wanted to cap the head and tail so that only the opening spread would be visible. We cut it to fit exactly against the profile of the open book.
