“Hanson Gauze is named for its purveyor, Joe Hanson, 423 West 43rd Street, New York City. It is a heavy durable gauze with small, square mesh. It has a ribbed side and a smooth side. It is manufactured only in a 30′ width and comes unfireproofed. The ribbed side, with the rib running horizontally, is considered the best side for painting as it catches the paint when either opaque color and dye is applied.
Bobbinet is a finer and more fragile gauze. Because of the nature of the weave of the mesh the end of a bobbinet drop may stretch and sag under the pull of tension of the battens. therefore it should be made several feet longer than necessary. This gauze is fine for a “fogging” effect. It takes dye or opaque color readily. It comes unfireproofed and is thirty feet wide. Other fabrics may be glued or sewn to the bobbinet. It can be used for borders, drops and even certain framed scenery.
“Gauzes (Hansen, Bobbinet, Scrim) are usually tacked down with a ‘strengthened’ tack. This is accomplished by driving the tack through a small square of cardboard. This prevents the tearing of the gauze when it shrinks.”
Excerpt from Bradford Ashworth’s “Notes on Scene Painting” (1952, pages 2, 3, and 10)
Below depicts the use of bobbinet for the Sanctum Sanctorum gates in King Solomon’s Temple (4th degree of the Scottish Rite drop). These images are from from Quincy, Illinois.
