The Story Of Wood Picture Frames
If you were to look at the architectural designs of temples or cathedrals of many, many years ago, then you may notice the entrance ways actually appeared to “frame” the interior of the building.
Once people starting framing pictures in order to hang them on their walls, it was done much like those early designs. Capturing the elaborate appearance was done by placing plaster that had been molded and painted, or gilded, over a plain, wooden base. Soon afterwards, people decided to begin framing art with metal picture frames by molding painted plaster onto a plain wooden base.
The wood picture frame made its more formal debut after being laboriously carved by artists in order to display their art rather than relying on plaster to enhance the frames.
They became more ornate as the artists would embellish them by using the materials that were available, such as gold and silver.
By that time, the frames were almost as highly regarded as the artwork they bordered and many times were as expensive as the art itself.
The design of the picture frames actually reflected the personal inspirations of the different furniture makers and wood carvers that sometimes resulted in the frames becoming very expensive.
By the 18th century new picture framing equipment was developed that helped to significantly reduce the amount of time needed to make a frame. However, some feel that these types of innovations caused the cheapening of frames, as they could be produced more quickly and with low cost materials.
Many frame makers began using molds that they filled with wood composite in order to stretch the amount of picture framing equipment needed. Many of the traditional artisans continued to produce a more custom picture frame that was carved from high quality wood by hand.
But, with the automated technological advances being made, it soon became clear that producing them by machine rather than hand was far less expensive and time consuming.
Of course, if you look hard enough you will find that there are some wood picture frames that are still carved in the traditional manner by hand. If you are looking for a silver picture frame, then a good place to start is at arts and crafts fairs.
Many times there will be a booth set up by the seller to not only sell picture framing equipment, but to allow you to watch one being carved.
You can find handmade picture frames at arts and crafts fairs as well, and quite possibly the seller has a booth set up so that you can watch him carve a frame in the traditional manner of earlier times.
