Saturday, August 14, 2010

A Tent with Two Shoulders



This elegant pavilion appears in Lancelot du Lac et la quete du Graal, (Bibl. na. Francais 343 f. 31v) Note that the lower edge of the walls is attached to the tent pegs with ropes connecting about a foot off the ground, with a low vertical wall falling from that point. Something very similar is shown in the Fresco of Guidoriccio da Fogliano. Note that this differs from the "sod flap" often included in modern reconstructions.

Only two guy lines are visible. Another, hidden behind the tent, would make three, sufficient to steady the tent if it had an internal frame at the shoulder.

Here are more, from the same manuscript. Only the tent in the far right foreground has ropes from the upper shoulder, and they seem to be there to hold the wall opening open rather than serve as guy ropes.

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