Frames don't get much sexier or more exciting than this little beauty! A Louis XIII frame, carved from oak with acanthus corners and leaf running pattern and water gilded. The Louis XIII style of frames dates to 1630 and 1660, although they would have continued to be made through the 18th Century alongside the newly emerging styles, and later as carved reproductions and composition revivals in the 19th Century.
The style is simply known as a convex (or ovolo) profile. The influence for these frames was from Baroque mouldings used on ceilings and doors, which could be traced back to styles in Italy, no doubt the influence of Marie de' Medici who was Louis XIII's mother.
This is one of my favourite styles of antique frame, the carving is often really crisp and highly detailed and almost seems to roll and flow round the frame. The later more ornate and extravagant styles are beautiful in their own way, but the simple restrained, but still decorative look of these earlier frames is far superior to my eyes. This is the sort of frame that needs to be hung without any painting, and that is what I will do with this frame, it is going on my wall at home!
