The Bayeux Tapestry has two thread breaks after its transfer to the British Museum

Was the cordial understanding only held by two threads? We will soon know... A “break of two threads” was noted on the Bayeux tapestry after its transfer to London. In mid-July, the tapestry crossed the Channel during a high-risk journey for the almost 70 meter long masterpiece. It was sent to the British Museum in London where it is to be exhibited to the public from September 10.

This historic loan, decided by French President Emmanuel Macron, had been denounced by almost all specialists and curators due to the fragility of the work. Its name “tapestry” is incorrect since it is in reality an embroidery from the 11th century, already altered by time and therefore extremely fragile.

1000 years later...

Shortly after the arrival of the Bayeux tapestry in the British capital, the first findings noted “no visible alteration” on the work. A more complete report, subsequently carried out by French and British experts, confirmed “the absence of major deterioration” while noting “small, light ruptures in two areas”, according to the first conclusions revealed by the newspaper La Croix.

These two sons will therefore have resisted for more than 1000 years, the troops of Otto IV, the Hundred Years' War, the treacherous incursions of the Habsburgs and the Prussians, two world wars, but not this London city break...

“Centimeter by centimeter”

Catherine Pgard, Minister of Culture, downplayed the snag:

“We reported a break in two threads over a 70 m length of a tapestry. So it’s true that it was examined with particular attention, it took a lot of time since the experts examined it centimeter by centimeter. So I can tell you that today, if we say that she was in the same state when she arrived in London as she was before leaving Bayeux, I think we are not very wrong. »