Round Image Victorian Frame

This round aperture Victorian Louis XV Rococo revival frame came in recently for some restoration work.

Metal Leaf

A Spandrel Slip

This job was to use a 30" x 25" antique frame from my stock, to fit a canvas print of a 18th Century portrait. The picture was originally painted with an oval aperture, so a slip had to be made to copy the oval shape. The canvas size was actually 32 1/2" x 25" so the frame rebate had to be extended to fit. 

Spandrels and Arched Slips

A few examples of spandrels and arch-topped slips, with various ornament and decoration. Three example have composition ornament, the one above has a low relief floral design built up from gesso (pastiglia), and there is also a nice example of incised decoration which depicts a ship flying British flags.

Another mirror frame...

I made a frame and ornamented spandrel like this one a while ago, it was just an idea and as an experiment really. The first one sold in the shop the day I finished it! so I thought I would make another and put a mirror in this one. It is a simple bronze powder finish.

Red primer

Here is my spandrel experiment after it has been sprayed with red primer, next comes some sanding before some black paint is put on the gadrooning and rosettes. 

Spandrel

This is just an experiment/sample frame I am making, a spandrel is usually used when a painting is circular, oval, or some other irregular shape, and it is to fit in a traditional rectangular or square frame, as opposed to a round or oval frame.

The window is cut from MDF, this is primed and then the moulded ornament is cast and glued in place, for the spandrel aperture I picked a gadroon ornament (this is sometimes called a pie crust), which is a typical ornament for a neoclassical frame, and is often seen on oval or round frames. The corner rosettes are intended to break up the area in the corners. The outer frame is a pretty standard fluted cove with acanthus leaf corners which I made some time ago. Next a red primer coat will be painted on, before the spandrel is finished with bronze powder. I am also working on one with a round aperture, I will post some photos as it progresses.

minor repairs

Water gilded frame with spandrel

This hand made water gilded frame has a gilded slip called a spandrel fitted, this is used to fit a round or other shaped painting into a rectangular frame. In this case it is not a painting but a mirror, frames like this are available for sale at my workshop, and can be made in any traditional or contemporary style, and to any size.