Client projects
Handmade frames, damaged frame restoration, specialist frame cleaning and period frame conservation
Frame restoration
Repairs, renovations and re-gilding
Samples of work we have produced for our clients and their treasured art
Each new commission begins with a conversation. Together, we will discuss the provenance and period of the art to be framed, and where it will be eventually hung. It may be that the client has acquired a new piece of unframed art and wishes to have a handmade frame made to display it in the correct period style. Or a client may have a framed picture which needs to be renovated, cleaned, or restored. For restoration and conservation pieces we discuss the type of damage which may have occurred, and the conditions and location of where it has been stored and will be hung once the work is completed.
Restoration - A Victorian ‘Grande Dame’
It was our pleasure to be asked to work on the restoration of this 19th century oil gilded frame.
A portrait of Mrs Emily Maria Gawne (1814-1899) of Kentraugh House Isle of Man by society painter Philip Tennyson Cole. (1862-1939).
The process involved replacements in compo taken from silicone moulds for the losses to the corners and edges of the frame.
We also made a new slip with a finish that seamlessly melded with the original frame for this imposing watercolour portrait.
Restoration of Damaged Frames
Cherished childhood portraits - bringing frames back to life
This project was a request from a client to restore a pair of very attractive 19th century frames which contained precious childhood paintings. Our client’s mother was the artist and she had painted beautiful pictures of our client and her brother when they were young children.
Our work involved restoring the losses to the compo and repairing the flaking gesso.
The final finish is in a toned metal leaf.
Restoration of Decorative Detail
It was a pleasure for us to restore a pair of oval frames which contained images our client’s grandparents.
To restore a special family heirloom is always a pleasure for the team at Period Frames. Here they recreated and repaired lost detail (tiny bobbles) and broken edges on this pair of period oval frames.
The process involved casting and moulding new bobbles using silicone putty and compo before touching in the finish.
The frames were cracked in places and the finish was successfully achieved with gesso and shellac to create a shiny ivory effect. There was also a little gold added on the shots and the leaves on the edges.
We are really pleased with how this restoration turned out and our client can once again proudly display these precious hand-retouched photographs.
Four Bespoke Oval Frames
Handmade period miniature frames with an oval aperture to display exquisite illustrated prints
These handmade period oval frames involved creating small composition rosettes made in a silicone mould which had been taken from an 18th century frame. The finished rosettes were then placed on the four corners of each spandrel. The shot front edge was applied by hand from compo which had been made using a 19th century boxwood mould.
The next stage involved adding gesso and sanding back before applying clay bole to the surfaces to achieve a lovely smooth surface and base for the metal leaf finish.
As part of the colour and texture toning process, We added rottenstone powder to create an aged patina to the frame surfaces.
Monday – Thursday
7am – 5pm
Friday
By appointment
Period Frames (London) Ltd. is registered as a limited company in England and Wales.
Company No. 8225474
VAT registration number GB142720342
© Period Frames (London) Ltd.
All rights reserved
Period Frames (London) Ltd is a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild.
The aim of the FATG is to encourage and promote the best in art framing.
