The Art of Framing

In framing just like in other areas there are trends. Often we can tell at what time an artwork has been acquired just by looking at the frame. In the last 25 years, we have seen several tendencies in the framing world. You will certainly remember the period of the metal mouldings, in gold or silver, gilded or brushed. Then there was the framing period with enamelled mouldings in all kind of colours. It’s also at that same period that we have seen the enthusiasm for lamination when anything was an excuse for plasticization on wood. But at the same time, despite all these trends, the classical mouldings made of wood and gold leaves were never obsolete. Classical is classical and it is not a temporary trend that will change that. 

Let see now how we frame the oils or acrylic paintings these days. The trend is for what we call floating frames without a liner. This method is very much appreciated for more contemporary large size artworks which harmonized well with the Zen style utilized in lofts and in houses with high ceilings. For smaller size paintings or for more classical paintings, framings with a liner of an inch or an inch and a quarter with a gold leaf moulding or simply a wooden moulding have replaced the larger 2 or 3 inch liner that we have used for years. The carved frames gilded with gold or silver leaves without a liner are also very trendy for classical paintings.

For the watercolours, pastels and other works that must be protected under glass, the use of acid free matting and backing is a must. Today the suppliers have adjusted to this standard and we find paperboard mats in all different colours and not only in white as it was the case before. The use of acid free material will not damage the framed document and by such its value will be preserved. The moulding trend for this type of framing is for wood in warm tones. The mouldings gilded with gold or silver leaves are also very much appreciated. 

Today the glass used to protect the documents is offered in a multitude of choices. The regular glass is the best known, there is some reflection and it does not protect against the bad UV rays. Then you have the no glare glass that is much clearer then it was 25 years ago but still doesn’t give any protection except for reflection. Then come the speciality glasses: museum glass, regular conservation glass, conservation glass without reflections and many others.

As you can note, the framing world is in constant evolution. If art evolves, framing evolves too. A professionally framed document will always be highlighted.