Tools of The Trade: Frames
Updated: Aug 18, 2022
FRAMES are the fashion accessories of the art world. And just as the wrong shoes can ruin a Prada outfit, the wrong frame can ruin a Picasso. Yet collectors are often flummoxed: should the frame reflect the artist's style, period or palette -- or some combination of these?
Here are ten interesting facts about frames that I learned over time!
Edgar Degas reportedly once said 'The frame is the reward of the artist'.. What does this mean? As an art lover and dealer of art, I can attest that a frame will add to the aesthetic value of your art 100% and keep prospective customers lingering longer.
Walk through any gallery or museum and find your favorite style of frame! Frames are NOT copy written. There is no law to stop anyone from imitating any kind of frame, from antique to modern. Many frames have been and still are replicated to look like frames from earlier centuries.
Egyptians used to carve frames for their artwork from the same piece of wood as the actual artwork and paintings themselves, so that the finished piece was all one continuos piece of work.
Frames are not just used to compliment the work displayed, they are actually a key importance to preserving and protecting whatever is being housed inside. For example, I've started working in pastel and realized that my work must be preserved in a glass frame to avoid fading!
Over the years custom made picture frames are becoming increasingly popular. They can be made in many different styles and colors from many different materials and can be designed and styled from the places they are to be hung, using decoration, location furnishings and style to help make them a perfect fit into any environment. At NYC Arts Empire, we help customers make decisions like these so that they can enjoy your art even more!
Wealthy estates slowly began to commission works of arts so that they could be displayed in their homes. This brought a need to design functional frames that can be portable too. These were produced by furniture builders rather that the artists or architects previously. These are what we use in the modern world today. Check out our 2022 catalogue for ideas to add to your collection!<