Frame-within-a-frame
How fun is this frame-within-a-frame moment from Houston art advisor Piper Faust? Carved into a soft cove and ornamented with beads and delicate floral corner motifs, this gilded frame pays a subtle nod to the frame shown in the painting, while the choice to float the piece instead of using a traditional cap frame further asserts the playful tension in the work.
100% reversible
Spring is in the air! We're celebrating the beautiful weather in Houston with this Janet Alling painting from Seven Sisters Gallery. We consider an artist frame to be part of the art itself, so we will never alter or remove one from an artwork — but we CAN build a new frame around the frame to conceal it, or even showcase it in a new way.
In the case of this Janet Alling piece, our friends at Seven Sisters wanted to enhance the look of the piece while still showcasing the artist's original frame and vision. We achieved this by floating the framed artwork inside of a larger custom walnut frame. To return the piece to its original framing, the painting together with its original artist frame could be easily removed and displayed, untouched and exactly as before. THAT is what we mean by 100% reversible.
Keeping it simple
We had the pleasure of working on several Angela Burson paintings for a different client last year — what a delight to see her work again! Represented by Hashimoto Contemporary, Burson is "influenced by anachronistic images of fashion and personal objects… Often, Burson renders the figures headless so the viewer sees the clothed body not as a portrait but as a collection of objects and patterns."
For this particular painting, we kept it simple: a white painted maple float frame from our In-House Hardwoods line has clean lines and an immaculate surface — but with a tiny hint of softness that you wouldn't get from another material like powder-coated aluminum. Perfect for this charming portrait!
A custom welded frame
This client came in with a clear vision of what he wanted, and though we didn't have a frame sample that matched exactly what he was looking for, we were able to order a custom welded frame to his exact specifications. The finished product combines the profile and finish of one sample with the decorative flat screws of another — additionally, the welded joints of this frame are unfinished, leaving visible welded seams for a grittier, more industrial feel.
This is by far one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do — taking a client's vision for how they want their art displayed and making it a reality. Between our in-house craftsmen and trusted network of outside vendors, we are proud to offer the widest variety of preservation framing solutions in the city and greater region. The only limit is your imagination.
Fly specking
From one of his most sought-after series, this untitled print from Willem de Kooning's Quatre Lithographies came to us recently for a framing update. The client chose a Sully frame — a beveled gilt American style so called because of its heavy use by early 19th-century American painter Thomas Sully.
This particular frame has been lightly finished to evoke the natural age and wear of an antique frame: umber wash softens the bright tone of freshly gilt gold; light distressing evokes the cracked surface of an old frame; and a light spattering of umber flecks imitates the tell-tale "fly specking" characteristic of antique gilding. This frame was gilded in-house by our Master Gilder.
