Almost every collector dreams of finding a rare work of art by one of the great masters but realistically, what are the chances of that happening?
The mere thought of adorning our walls with valuable paintings is everybody’s dream, but few of us have deep enough pockets to afford such a luxury. Consider the antique picture frame: one of the best ways to show off your artwork, even if it is just a reprint. An antique picture frame adds value to your chosen piece of artwork and may just fool your guests when they come to visit.
Let’s take a look at its history and how this simple item came to be so valued.
What’s in a picture frame?
The modern-day picture frame is just four pieces of wood (plastic or metal), held together by mitred corners. On the other hand, picture frames of antiquity are ornate works of arts that hold great value over time. They were often of a religious nature and carved out of wood by highly skilled craftsmen.
The very first picture frame to be recorded in history was not a wooden, free-standing frame at all but a stucco border made of plaster that surrounded a funereal portrait of the deceased. Its purpose was to hang the dearly departed’s portrait in the house of the bereaved.
Panel painting frames
The portrait itself was painted on a solid wooden board and placed on the mummified bodies of the elite members of Roman Egyptian society. They were called Fayum Mummy Portraits and followed the Classical Greek and highly respected tradition of panel painting.
The oldest and only surviving examples on record come from the Roman Egyptian tombs, circa 30 B.C. Some can still be found at reputable auction houses such as this one below which sold at Christie’s, London for USD 125,000 in 2018.
As a naturalistic artform, panel painting has continued to thrive throughout history. At a time before canvas was invented and paintings were applied to wood, vellum or pottery, it became tremendously popular in Europe. By the 12th and 13th centuries, panel painting was regarded as a highly revered skill.
From one solid panel of wood, the craftsman would carve out a recessed centre, much like a dinner tray, and frame the entire piece in an intricately carved, raised border. The wooden panel would then be gessoed and gilded, before the final painting was applied to the centre panel. Fine examples of this art form are the Medieval paintings of the Madonna with child.
The engaged frame
Wood was an expensive commodity, so the "engaged frame" was developed during the Middle Ages to save time and money. The engaged frame was an early version of the mitred frame. It was constructed of four wooden moulding strips that were adhered to the edge of the panel painting to form a border or frame. Some early examples include the panel painting by Simone Martini called Christ Discovered in the Temple.
The portable or moveable frame
Most European works of art during this time were enormous, elaborate pieces that were commissioned by the churches of the 14th and 15th centuries.
The Italian Renaissance
In the true European style of the times, much skill and labour went into these creations. They were revered and respected as part of the holy church. They formed altarpieces, triptychs and other important elements of the church. The frames were ornamental and highly decorative, taking after the tradition of the sculptural architecture of the great cathedrals.
Inspired by Gentile da Fabriano’s Adoration of the Magi (1423), the first altarpiece made with an independent picture frame, the wealthy nobles of the Italian Renaissance commissioned their own works of art to adorn the walls of their stately homes. It was this period of time that gave birth to the portable or moveable frame of today.
The French Renaissance
The Kings Louis of the French Renaissance ushered in a time of high art and lavish luxury, where furniture and furnishings were as important as the art hanging on your walls. Interior design was the height of fashion and an opulent symbol of high status.
The art of carving picture frames passed on from the artists, sculptures and architects to the furniture makers of the French Renaissance. They created some of the most beautiful picture frames in history. Perhaps the most stunning example is the Baroque-style picture frame surrounding Hyacinthe Rigaud’s painting of King Louis XIV, housed in the Château de Chenonceau. It features Louis XIV’s signature motif of a single band engraved with C-scroll designs and extended, oval-shaped cartouches at each corner and in the centre.
The aristocracy of the time picked up on this style of adorning their picture frames with carvings of crests, motifs and family emblems. Frames of gold leaf were the most popular, but as styles changed from century to another, precious materials were added such as ebony or tortoiseshell. The higher your status, the more extravagant the picture frames became.
Some perfect examples of frames from this period of history can be found at auction. Every year, the auction house Artcurial in Paris holds an auction featuring Old Masters & 19TH Century Art, Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures, Antiques & Collector's Frames. See below:
LOT 1: End of the Louis XIV period, France. Sculpted and gilded oak frame with beautiful decoration of lambrequins. Estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 €; Sold: 2,860 €.
LOT 11: End of the Louis XIII period. Carved and gilded oak frame, decorated with flowers at the corners, fleur-de-lys and sandblasted grooves. Estimated at 1,000 to 1,500 €; Sold: 1,300 €.
Early American Empire
This style of engraving motifs into picture frames caught on in the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries. Known as the Early American Empire style, the classical emblems were replaced with agricultural motifs such as tobacco leaves, corn, and wheat, reflecting the early life of these new land settlers.
Arts and Crafts Movement
The Arts and Crafts movement spread throughout the world, taking on different names and artistic expressions, such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The picture frames of this era reflect the universal artistic belief in style and design as an expression of the times. While Art Nouveau was decorative and asymmetrical, Art Deco was clean and geometric. (See examples below).
Whether your preference for picture frames leans towards the ornate, gold variety or the simple, geometric designs, each frame tells a story and reflects the period of history when craftsmanship was a revered skill.