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16:03 Apr 19, 2011
Italian to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Geography / Cartography
Italian term or phrase:tela a stacchi
Describing a museum's collection of historical maps, including
piante di città di grande formato, su tela a stacchi che illustrano lo sviluppo della cartografia europea
I have no idea either what this format looks like or how to say it in English!
Many thanks in advance
Explanation: 'Frederik De Wit (1616-1698) was a famous Dutch publisher of maps and atlases. In 1648 he founded his publishing house in Amsterdam and in the period 1670 to 1680 many atlases were published. However, De Wit is particularly important for his wall maps, of which NOVA TOTIUS TERRARUM ORBIS TABULA (1670) is one of the best examples. Of considerable dimensions (1,86 x 1,23 m) this planisphere was created using the copper engraving technique. It consists of several sheets mounted on cuts of cloth, which improves its maintenance, makes it more legible and simplifies the transport and use of such a large map.'
(http://www.bentleys.co.za/world/c01.html)
'Mappa geografica originale d’epoca, fine ’700, uno dei segmenti costituenti la grande carta del Regno di Napoli del Rizzi Zannoni, edita tra fine ’700 e primo ’800, incisioni originali su carta montata a stacchi su tela (per poter essere ripiegata e resa tascabile o trasportabile)'
(http://www.liquorvitae.it/mappe-geografiche/gaeta/)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 mins (2011-04-19 16:23:52 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 26 mins (2011-04-19 16:29:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Mounted on linen is another option,
'Antique folding map of England and Wales in 45 sections, mounted on linen. Bright printed color. Map is in excellent condition, front cover is separated, but present. Unfolded, map measures approx. 40.5 x 26 inches.'
(http://www.mapsofantiquity.com/store/inventory.pl?category=6...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 34 mins (2011-04-19 16:37:35 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
'Folding Maps: Folding maps were common from the 18th century onwards. These maps, made to be folded and pocketed are designed to be transportable. Most early folding maps have been dissected into panels and mounted on a backing material – usually linen. The earliest examples tend to be backed on a course sailcloth, while 19th century folding maps are often mounted on fine linen. With such maps, we can learn a lot by examining the backing. If an older map (pre 1810) is attached to exceptionally fine linen – something is usually wrong. Those folding maps that were not dissected and instead were bound into the backs of books and inside folders should exhibits signs of wear and use, including discoloration along the fold lines, wear, and soiling. Such maps usually also exhibit some glue damage and discoloration where they were originally attached to their binder – this is particularly the case with mid 19th century American material. While pristine examples do exist, it is highly uncommon and should be a flag for further study.
Wall Maps: Wall maps, like many folding maps, are almost universally mounted on linen or heavy sail cloth. Most exhibit extreme wear, flaking, and other damage due to their manufacture process which often included causing glues, paints, and varnishes. An example that does not exhibit certain conditional issues may suggest extensive restoration work – which is not in any way bad – but does bear note.'
(http://www.geographicus.com/blog/rare-and-antique-maps/is-my...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 days (2011-04-24 05:53:00 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Thanks a mil, Lorraine. Buona domenica (e Pasqua, se la festeggi),
B
I'm still unsure what it means. I saw your text said the system 'a stacchi' helped protect from wear, make it easier to read etc., so thought the concept of folding maps along the 'white' bits (possibly the 'stacchi') made sense. It also occurred to me that the 'stacchi' might be the individual sections or 'plates' engraved by the cartographers and printed so as to make a whole.... but your original suggestion could also be valid. Boh!!
I believe you are right, although I have not found any etymological content to prove it. Dividing a large map into sections and then put it back together onto a cloth/linen backing does seem like a practical enough solution.
Many thanks for this so far, especially Barbara. I had meanwhile found some images of this type of map and they are all in square or rectangular 'sections', so I was wondering if the 'stacchi' (as in 'detached' like tiles which are slightly separate from one another) might refer to this, that they are in sections. Or is a cut of cloth (as in a scampolo) often called a 'stacco di tela'?
Just a thought - is there any thought that this might be a typo for tela a scacchi, as in checked cloth??? Just brainstorming!
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
10 mins confidence:
cuts of cloth
Explanation: 'Frederik De Wit (1616-1698) was a famous Dutch publisher of maps and atlases. In 1648 he founded his publishing house in Amsterdam and in the period 1670 to 1680 many atlases were published. However, De Wit is particularly important for his wall maps, of which NOVA TOTIUS TERRARUM ORBIS TABULA (1670) is one of the best examples. Of considerable dimensions (1,86 x 1,23 m) this planisphere was created using the copper engraving technique. It consists of several sheets mounted on cuts of cloth, which improves its maintenance, makes it more legible and simplifies the transport and use of such a large map.'
(http://www.bentleys.co.za/world/c01.html)
'Mappa geografica originale d’epoca, fine ’700, uno dei segmenti costituenti la grande carta del Regno di Napoli del Rizzi Zannoni, edita tra fine ’700 e primo ’800, incisioni originali su carta montata a stacchi su tela (per poter essere ripiegata e resa tascabile o trasportabile)'
(http://www.liquorvitae.it/mappe-geografiche/gaeta/)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 mins (2011-04-19 16:23:52 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 26 mins (2011-04-19 16:29:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Mounted on linen is another option,
'Antique folding map of England and Wales in 45 sections, mounted on linen. Bright printed color. Map is in excellent condition, front cover is separated, but present. Unfolded, map measures approx. 40.5 x 26 inches.'
(http://www.mapsofantiquity.com/store/inventory.pl?category=6...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 34 mins (2011-04-19 16:37:35 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
'Folding Maps: Folding maps were common from the 18th century onwards. These maps, made to be folded and pocketed are designed to be transportable. Most early folding maps have been dissected into panels and mounted on a backing material – usually linen. The earliest examples tend to be backed on a course sailcloth, while 19th century folding maps are often mounted on fine linen. With such maps, we can learn a lot by examining the backing. If an older map (pre 1810) is attached to exceptionally fine linen – something is usually wrong. Those folding maps that were not dissected and instead were bound into the backs of books and inside folders should exhibits signs of wear and use, including discoloration along the fold lines, wear, and soiling. Such maps usually also exhibit some glue damage and discoloration where they were originally attached to their binder – this is particularly the case with mid 19th century American material. While pristine examples do exist, it is highly uncommon and should be a flag for further study.
Wall Maps: Wall maps, like many folding maps, are almost universally mounted on linen or heavy sail cloth. Most exhibit extreme wear, flaking, and other damage due to their manufacture process which often included causing glues, paints, and varnishes. An example that does not exhibit certain conditional issues may suggest extensive restoration work – which is not in any way bad – but does bear note.'
(http://www.geographicus.com/blog/rare-and-antique-maps/is-my...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 days (2011-04-24 05:53:00 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Thanks a mil, Lorraine. Buona domenica (e Pasqua, se la festeggi),
B
Barbara Carrara Italy Local time: 12:09 Works in field Native speaker of: Italian PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Brilliant, Barbara! On looking more carefully, I think your suggestion of 'mounted on linen' says the right thing about tela but is broad enough to cover whatever the meaning really is!!
The translation workplace 
