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34 Comments

  1. Head-Philosopher-721 on

    It does sound like it can’t be safely moved. If that’s the case Macron + Starmer should cancel the loan, the tapestry’s preservation should override political gestures.

  2. Suggestion that if possible after proper conservation the Tapestry may be displayed in a world class Museum with proper climate control etc (that happens to be in Britain). Section of the French Public “Mais Non” no doubt with much Gallic handwaving and outrage.

    I am surprised they didn’t want to include fishing quotas in the loan they usually do

  3. douggieball1312 on

    Weird question, but is the Tapestry anywhere near as well known in France as it is in England? I’d love to see the typical nation demographics for visitors to the Bayeux museum since the tapestry shows an event which is central to English history but barely features as an aside in French history (especially as Normandy wasn’t really part of France at the time).

  4. newnortherner21 on

    I don’t recall any fuss being made when the Vermeer in Kenwood House was deemed to be too fragile for transport to the Vermeer exhibition in the Netherlands a couple of years ago.

    The French could be right on this one.

  5. Joethepatriot on

    Perhaps we can make a deal with the EU, in which we hand over the Elgin marbles, and we get the tapestry back. Seems reasonable.

    Britain wins, Greece wins, France loses.

  6. Hughdungusmungus on

    The response when it’s on British soil and it’s asked to be returned is ‘what tapestry’

  7. Loan!! It’s not a loan, it is a simple gift. We’ll put it on display along side our Elgin Marbles and other British gifts.

  8. ishamiltonamusical on

    From the French side, because there is danger the Tapestry could suffer damage. That would be highly serious and irrevocable.

    From the UK side it will be an incredible thing to see in real life,not just a replica.

    Also, I don’t doubt the British museum will take good care of it but God help us all if there starts a movement from the UK about nit returning it because it’s a British artifact. Because then a LOT of countries woyld like a word.

  9. Visual_Astronaut1506 on

    There is a perfectly good 1:1 recreation in Reading already (Victorian recreation – accurate apart from they put underpants on some of the figures), why not just move that down the road for a bit, especially if Reading museum gets a leasing fee.

    The British Museum was perfectly happy for that to be the approach with the Elgin Marbles, where the amazing Acropolis museum in Greece only had replicas.

  10. DesignerElectrical23 on

    Just give us half of it and we’ll display (keep it) in the British museum.

  11. ThinkAboutThatFor1Se on

    This swap loan deal is the model that is on the table for the Elgin Marbles / Parthenon.

    Unfortunately Greek politics don’t allow it.

  12. Fightfirewithfire86 on

    Their country is going bankrupt and they are more worried about a fucking tapestry!

  13. I 100% bet the French public couldn’t give a flying fuck, this is just more outrage bait click bullshit!

  14. It’s the only evidence of the one time they didn’t surrender, so no wonder they want to keep it

  15. Why now?

    This has been known since earlier this year. I think I read about it in May.

    Clickbait methinks.

  16. twilighttwister on

    Not to sound like an “protect are cuntry” nob or anything, but imagine if the British people said no to returning artefacts from museums to the countries where they were made.

  17. This thing is so fragile, the only way we are going to get it back is if we invade France and reclaim Bayeux itself.

  18. Moving the Bayeaux Tapestry to the British Museum should be fine. Moving it back again would be way too dangerous, though.

  19. ExampleMediocre6716 on

    Everyone’s up arms about the Elgin marbles and the Benin Bronzes, but the Bayeux Tapestry woven in Kent?

    Artifact diplomacy is an embarrassment in any case, and no idea why they’d want to import a symbol of defeat. Let the French keep their brittle rag.

  20. I’m in the side of the French with this one – it’s a silly thing to try and move. Now, hear me out, the viewing gallery off the top of the Eiffel Tower – we could mount it on top of Blackpool tower….

  21. It was almost certainly made in England, by English artisans, about English history. It’s a British artefact. The French should be glad we’re not keeping it.

  22. limaconnect77 on

    Shouldn’t be moved if there’s the potential for degradation to occur.

    Also, an embroidery, not a ‘tapestry’ – big difference. It’s a fantastic case of historical fact being much more interesting and fun than accepted ‘knowledge’.

  23. Objective_Horse4896 on

    I tell you what, mon ami français, how about we Anglais get Freedom of Movement, and we can pop over and see it whenever we want without a six-month preparation and booking a separate seat for our paperwork?

    That way, the tapestry would be undisturbed and we could both enjoy it. And if we chose to buy a house because we love living in your country, it would be allowed and there’d be nothing the Brexit looneys could do?

  24. Legal_Confusion4150 on

    It’s widely accepted that the tapestry was woven in England. On that basis, it’s coming home. I’m being facetious, of course. Or am I 🤔

  25. They are just scared the British museum wont give it back.

    French: “Give it back”

    British: “Give what back?”

    French: ” The TAPESTRY!”

    Britain: ” But we found it”

    French: ” What? No you didn’t we loaned it to you”

    Britain: ” No, we opened up the museum in the morning and it was on the wall, must of missed it, happens in archaeology ”

    French: ” Va te faire foutre, j’espère que ta mère se cogne l’orteil contre une table basse”