Metal Leaf Swept

This vintage early 20th Century swept frame has been refinished, the process is pretty quick and simple. First a shellac (Zinsser BIN) primer coat is painted on, then a red/brown casein based paint, the high points are painted with acrylic gold size and metal leaf is put on all these areas. Next the remaining red areas are painted with a bronze powder paint, which is made from glue and bronze powder. The last stage is a pigmented button polish coat all over and then some wax.

Antique 20" x 24" Frames

A varied selection of antique frames to fit 20" x 24" paintings, prices vary from £80 to £450 ex VAT.

Old Lap Joint Frames

Two early 20th Century frames, the black one with a simple lap joint, and the other also with a lap joint, but along with numerous other sections added to make up the profile. 

18" x 24" Frames

A small selection of the 18" x 24" antique and modern repro frames that I have in stock. I have various other examples available for the period framing of antique paintings.

Double Swept Frame

A Louis XV style double swept style frame from the late 19th or early 20th Century, this just needed some museum glass fitting and a tidy-up.

Canvas Frame

A water gilded 23.5ct gold leaf frame with painted middle scoop and sides, on a large canvas by Jeremy Houghton.

Painted Frame

This vintage frame from the mid 20th Century has been cut down to fit a smaller painting.

The Red Lodge

The Red Lodge Museum in Bristol is very small, but it has some amazing carved oak panelled rooms. These oak panels date from the 1590's and are well worth a visit.

Paint Finish Frame

Here are a few of the stages involved in making this distressed paint finish frame.

Carlo Maratta Variations

A few variations of the ever popular Carlo Maratta frame, seen in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

Bright Frame Gilding

During a recent visit to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery I saw a number of 19th Century paintings in frames that had been regilded. These frames were left really bright, which is quite unusual to see. This is perhaps how they would have looked when they were originally made, but we are so used to seeing gilding aged and darkened by dust that they really stood out. It was good to see almost all paintings glazed with 'museum glass', unlike Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery which has only a few.

Big Frame Gilded

Finished Vintage Frame Repair

A finished frame repair, some earlier photos can be seen in a previous post.