OK – maybe I don’t really need a 19th-century British officer (though it would be lovely to have a companion who knew how tea should properly be made). But I do need something like a 19th-century British officer’s canvas tent.
Christopher Schwarz has an upcoming article on a campaign chest, and we thought it might be fun to shoot the opening picture with the piece staged inside of a white canvas tent (while in the background men in red coats shoot long rifles at disenfranchised native peoples…or not). Ya know – something like The Meaning of War scene in Monty Python’s “The Meaning of Life.” (The end bit with the “tiger” straightening his whiskers cracks me up every time.)
But I’m sad to report that I’m fresh out of white canvas tents. If anyone in the Cincinnati metro area has one we could borrow for a day or two, do let me know.
Cheers,
Megan Fitzpatrick
513-531-2690 x11348
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It’s not easy taking pictures of campaign furniture inside a tent unless it’s a large tent. In this link is an 18th century folding campaign bedstead I made inside a 10′ x 10′ wedge tent.
http://galootcentral.com/index.php?option=com_copperminevis&Itemid=2&place=displayimage&album=480&pos=2
Cheers,
John
Hey, Megan –
Check out this link: http://www.logcabinshop.com/shoots%20&%20Rendezvous.html
There is an event that’s not a long ways from you, and there will be more tents and period clothing than you could shake a stick at. Even if you can’t go there, I’m certain they could put you in touch with some reenactors located in your immediate area.
Contact some of the reenactors from the 1812 war era. They usually have a complete camp setup from around that era, may be to early but they have both British and American units. Many groups are in Indiana and we have many here but we are in Western New York.
I doubt that they’ll have what you need, but O’Neil Tents in Canal Winchester might at least be able to point you in the right direction. Failing that, it seems that this is something you’re more likely to find at a place that supplies stage decorations for plays, movies, etc.
-Steve
Maybe Chris in a pith helmet shaving?
A tiger?!
White sheets from Walmart just not convincing enough? Heh. Maybe try a local sailing club.
I’m sorry, I don’t have a white tent, and I’m not in the Cincinatti area. But I do have several volumes of Kipling.
First mind you steer clear o’ the grog-sellers’ huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay’nets that rots out your guts —
Ay, drink that ‘ud eat the live steel from your butts —
An’ it’s bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .