'Iolani Palace
Oversized Acrylic Display Case for Historic Quilt
ʻIolani Palace | Honolulu, HI
ʻIolani Palace required a replacement display case to protect and present a historic 10-foot by 10-foot quilt created by Queen Liliʻuokalani during her imprisonment in her upstairs bedroom of the palace. The case needed to span the full footprint of the artifact while maintaining clarity, structural integrity, and long-term protection.
Because of the large dimensions, the project required special-order acrylic materials capable of spanning the full size of the display. To prevent sagging over the center of the quilt, the top surface of the case was formed into a subtle arch, increasing rigidity while preserving the visual presentation of the artifact. The curved top was carefully fabricated and bonded into place as part of the overall assembly.
The display case was manufactured entirely in-house, including fabrication, assembly, polishing, and finishing. Once complete, the case was wrapped, transported, and delivered to ʻIolani Palace for installation.
Why it worked:
Special-order acrylic enabled a 10′ × 10′ uninterrupted display span
Arched top design improved structural rigidity and reduced deflection
In-house fabrication ensured quality control throughout the process
Careful polishing and finishing preserved optical clarity
Coordinated transport allowed safe delivery of a large, finished case
The completed case provides long-term protection for a significant cultural artifact while maintaining clear, unobstructed viewing for visitors.
Need a large-format or non-standard display case for a historic or institutional setting? Contact us to discuss your project.
Fabrication & Assembly Process
ʻIolani Palace | Display Case Manufacturing
This gallery documents the fabrication and assembly process for the oversized acrylic display case, including cementing, forming, polishing, and final assembly. Extra-large acrylic sheets were special ordered to meet the project’s size requirements, then cut, bonded, and finished in-house to achieve structural integrity and optical clarity.
Each component was carefully cemented, assembled, and polished to support the final curved top and large-span design before being prepared for transport and installation at ʻIolani Palace.
On-Site Case Maintenance & Joint Repair
ʻIolani Palace | Existing Display Cases
These photos document on-site maintenance performed on existing acrylic display cases originally fabricated over 20 years ago. After years of service, normal wear and environmental conditions led to separation at select joints in several basement display cases.
While on site for the replacement case installation, additional time was scheduled to address joint separation and cracking in place, restoring the integrity of the existing cases without requiring removal or replacement. Repairs were completed carefully on site to preserve the original assemblies and extend their service life.
