Among Greg McMichael's Major League memorabilia are a number of team jerseys that he wishes to display. One of the best ways to accomplish such a goal is by means of wall-mounted framed display cases. To help with this project -- and to provide valuable professional tips for anyone who may wish to create his or her own version of such a display -- McMichael welcomes Christine Gould, a designer for the Hard Rock Cafe.
- Gould demonstrates a prefabricated display case (figure A) in which McMichael's New York Mets jersey is to be displayed. Among the more useful features of this particular case are holes marked for attaching it to the wall (figure B) and a dowel for hanging the jersey; the dowel slips through the sleeves of the shirt and then is suspended from a hanger within the frame. This technique allows the shirt to be exhibited with much more dimension than could be achieved by simply hanging it on a hanger.
- After determining which side of the jersey he wishes to display, McMichael inserts the dowel through the sleeves (figure C). This case is deep enough to allow the jersey to be displayed with some dimension, but Gould explains that it's possible to find or build cases that will hold considerably bulkier items. In fact, she says that at the Hard Rock Cafe -- where her responsibilities include creating rock-themed displays -- she is accustomed to creating exhibits that feature rock memorabilia such as stage costumes and even musical instruments (figure D). Because the establishment customarily uses half-mannequins to exhibit items of clothing, shallow display cases are definitely not the first choice!
- As an alternative to the dowel idea (as well as to the mannequin route!), Gould explains that custom display cases can be made from wood and lined with fabric, to which the display item can be pinned or, alternatively, affixed with hook-and-loop tape (figure E).
- McMichael and Gould arrange the Mets jersey, folding the sleeves for optimum visibility of the patch on one (figure F). At the same time Gould stresses the importance of proper lighting in a manner that prevents damage, as many materials are highly susceptible to the effects of UV rays and should be protected from them.
- Among the types of lighting available for displays are rope lighting (figure G), which can be mounted on the inside of deeper cases for added glow; and museum lights that can be wall-mounted above a display case (figure H). These can be used alone or in combination with other methods, as shown in figure I, a view of one of the many displays Gould has created for the Hard Rock.
- Another important part of displaying any type of memorabilia is attaching a plaque that explains or commemorates an item's significance (figure J). Remember that although an item may be of great importance to you, it will have an impact on others only if they understand what it represents.
- Moving on around the room, McMichael shows Gould a number of niches he has had built into the walls. One interesting feature that he points out is the wallpaper chosen for the niches -- its pattern imitates the stitching on a baseball (figure K). Whereas the Hard Rock protects the contents of its niches with glass, however, Gould questions whether anyone would wish to steal her host's old shoes! But she does explain that the best way to approach a niche display is to make sure it isn't crowded -- items are of interest only if they can be seen clearly. And as a last look at the niches around the perimeter of the room demonstrates (figure L), that theory contains a great deal of truth.
RESOURCES :
Hardball Warehouse
Hardball Warehouse
Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: 678-957-0885
Fax: 678-957-0887
Email: info@hardballwarehouse.com
Website: www.hardballwarehouse.com
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