CONSERVATION PICTURE FRAMING

We are conservation framers and frame and protect artwork for the long term. We have extensive knowledge of all framing materials, conservation and museum glass, mount boards, acid-free materials and archival framing mounting techniques.

FRAME CONSTRUCTION

We use a variety of mouldings and woods including oak, ash, beech, walnut, and American tulip wood.  Frames are glued and reinforced by dowelling across the corners.  This ensures that the frame doesn’t open at the corners over time.  Some timbers are best left unstained but we usually seal and wax them to bring out the beauty of the wood.  Others are stained, sealed and waxed when particular colours are required.  We are adept in mixing up colours both dark, light or transparent.  We make metal and painted frames and unglazed tray frames for canvases.  We also make stretchers for paintings on canvas before framing them.

GLASS

Our standard picture glass is thinner and therefore clearer than usual.  When we frame particularly delicate work such as antique watercolours, photographs and pencil drawings we recommend conservation glass to filter out 99% of UV light, which can bleach artwork over time. 

When both clarity and UV are an issue, we use museum glass which filters out 97% of UV light, is almost invisible and does not darken or dull the artwork’s colour.  Large frames can for safety reasons be glazed with acrylic Perspex.

MOUNTBOARD

We use high-quality conservation board and museum board.  Both are Ph-neutral and acid-free.  Conservation board is a cellulose board that is buffered (calcium carbonate) and we generally use this for most jobs as it is more cost-effective than museum board.  Museum board is made of cotton rag and we would use this for particularly fragile work.  Conservation boards have improved over the years and are now perfectly safe for most artwork.

Our window mounts are hinged book window mounts.  This further protects the artwork since it does not touch highly-acidic hardboard and MDF. Float mounts, float mounts within windows, and raised mounts are other mounting options. The artwork is attached with a variety of archival tape.  No solvent tapes such as masking tape or Sellotape are used.

We only use an acid free water-resistant material for back boards.  The back boards have a wax coating which repels moisture and prevents the growth of mould.  Hardboard and mdf are particularly absorbent and when damp will accelerate mould growth and the leaching of acid into the mount board and artwork.

RESTORATION

We can restore gilt frames, and make castings for parts that are chipped or completely missing.  We can also make small restorations to damaged watercolours and oil paintings.

Ready to discuss your framing project?

Just get in touch to book a free consultation.