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As style consultants often advise, people should notice you, not your clothes. The same applies to art – people should notice the painting, not the frame. A quality, hand-crafted frame, however, can enhance the beauty and value of artwork on display inside a home.
“The frame should complement a work of art,” says William Adair, owner of Gold Leaf Studios and a leading frame historian and conservator. “It should be the supporting actor, not the main character.”
Adair helps clients select frames to showcase their art to its best advantage. His Dupont Circle studio makes period replicas and contemporary frames using traditional construction methods and materials. The studio also repairs frames and conducts searches for antique frames.
Selecting the Right Frame
To select an appropriate frame, first look at the painting itself. The frame should complement the work of art’s content, color and texture and should balance with its scale and proportion. Next consider the painting’s age. A frame’s profile or shape and ornamentation usually follow the style and period of the painting.
You also want to look at the environment in which the art will be placed. Is the space traditional or contemporary? What is the ceiling height? Budget, of course, is a factor. Antique frames can be expensive; period replicas generally cost much less.
Some clients have clear visions of what they want; others look to Adair for guidance. Adair presents frame options based on the painting’s attributes and the client’s tastes and budget.
Knowing What to Look For
If you are commissioning a custom frame, it helps to know some basics about traditional methods and materials.
Construction – A splined corner joint is more durable than a miter cut reinforced with glue and nails. Splines are thin strips of hard wood attached to the back of a frame to keep the corner from opening up.
Preparation – To make a uniform base for gold leaf, the frame maker applies to the raw wood several layers of gesso, a mixture of glue, traditionally made from rabbit skins, and chalk. Next the preparer applies bole, a fine clay and glue mixture that provides a soft layer between gesso and gold leaf. Bole color, usually red, provides a warm undertone for the gold leaf and can be adjusted to be sympathetic with the painting’s colors and tone.
Gilding – The quality of gold leaf is important; ask for 22 or 23 karat. Also, the traditional water gilding technique, as opposed to oil gilding, allows more of the clay color to come through and provides a richer surface depth and greater brilliance.
A custom frame that complements a painting will help ensure that you enjoy your investment for years to come.
