This is a small, refined picture frame in the traditional mode. It is dark brown, almost black, with slight red rub-through accents, often referred to as plum. It is a hardwood frame with a fine semi-matte gesso finish. The inner lip of the frame is a classic, slightly mottled gold. This combination makes it both elegant and versatile. Part of what makes it a traditional frame style is the flat section on the front, which we call the panel. The panel style adds detail, but gives the eye a place to rest, so to speak, between the lip and the outer raised detail consisting of three tiny “steps”. It is on the small side for a panel frame, which adds to its appeal. It serves well for a broad range of uses, whether it’s for 17th century etchings, small oil landscape paintings, family heirloom photographs and tin-types, or treasured small textiles.
Although it is a traditional style frame, it can also be used for more modern/contemporary works of art or projects such as black and white figurative studies, or outright abstracts. Due to this versatility, it would be an excellent choice to tie several non-similar pieces of art into a coherent display.
The front of the frame measures 11/16”wide, and the outer side is a full 1”in depth. The inside measurement (or rabbet) is 11/16”, so there is ample room for more than one mat, if a mat is desired, or required, to help protect your art. If a mat is not used, there is ample room to add a spacer to lift the glass or acrylic away from the object being framed. This technique can be used to create a slight shadowbox effect as well.
This is a small frame, so we suggest its use for frames only up to 20”x24”. We offer similar panel frames in this color combination up to 4” in width, if your needs require a larger frame, or if you would like to coordinate several framed pieces. Two examples to look at are V124 and V690.
