This antique swept frame shows what happens when frames are handled poorly. It was picked up by the top centre, which gave way under the weight of the rest of the frame, and resulted in a drop to the floor which caused considerable damage to a number of areas. The canvas also suffered a large dent. Sadly the broken off sections were thrown away, which means a lot more work will be involved, than just piecing together the broken bits.
I would always suggest frames are handled with great care, and never by the corners or centres, best to hold two sides and even better if you can wear cotton gloves.
