More Articles

Antique picture frames which are frames that are years old or more have their own unique appeal. These give one a sense of history. In fact, they can be considered a masterpiece in themselves. The elaborate woodwork tells of artisans of old who painstakingly and expertly carved them, with the craftsmanship handed over from the previous generations.

The wood is precious, because it has proven itself by standing the test of time.

Bed frames made in similar styles can date from the same time period. Some of the design styles that rose to prominence when Iron beds were popular include the.

As an art dealer I would never show a client a painting unframed, not least because I believe the artist would not have wanted me to. In , when J. Turner painted a view of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice he included the figure of Canaletto working at his easel, seen bottom left, painting the same vista. No artist ever framed a canvas before starting the painting itself so why did Turner include such a unlikely sight? The importance of the frame in the correct presentation of 18th or 19th century oil paintings should never be underestimated.

In fact in my opinion antique and vintage picture frames are works of art in their own right. I often buy pictures not for the painting but for the frame in which it hangs.