Framing without glass

[framebyframe]

My Client has A) an etching and B) a print that she insists she wants reframed with mounts and without glass. The etching looks a little valuable as the previous framer backed it with acid free board and the print is an historical photo which is probably very hard to replace. What should I do ? I can glass later if there is failure, but knowing it's the wrong thing to do ...... She insists she will take the risk .... Advice anyone >

Sue
Frame by Frame Knysna South Africa

[JFeig]

... but knowing it's the wrong thing to do ...... She insists she will take the risk

risk.... That is stupidity! But don't tell her that. That is like living outside and not having the rain fall on you. It will happen.

[Steve N]

"Customer is always right"

[Graysalchemy]

If it was me I would try and find out why she doesn't want it glazed. If it is because of reflections then I would show her Anti reflective glass options and try and educate her into the risks of not glazing. If she still insists on hnot having glass then I would say you have two simple options:-

Do the Job

Not do the Job

Me i would not do the job if I felt strongly enough that it would be detrimental to the artwork, I wouldn't want to compromise my work ethics or the reputation of my company.

But at the end of the day it is your call.

[prospero]

I wouldn't do it. End of.

[pramsay13]

I would explain to her the risks but I would do it if she insisted. I would also note on the back or inside the frame that it was framed without glass as per the customer's instructions.

[Timh]

I agree with Graysalchemy and Prospero

don't compromise your skill level but do try and push the speciality glass

if the paper (picture) is not a good grade of paper, acid free or cotton based , leaving open to the air will probably increase the action of the lignin within the paper and degrade a lot more quickly.

Also you have to consider possible air pollution. Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrogen sulphide are bi- products of some heating and when mixed with moisture and oxygen in the air, become acidic and attack and destroy paper not to mention airbourne dust/dirt which can be abrasive on the prints surface.

can't see any positive reason not to put glass on.

mind you, damaged pictures are a restorers dream when the customer is hit with a big cleaning/restoration invoice!

[prospero]

The other issue is the mount. Without being sandwiched tightly betwixt glass and backing it's going to curl up like a week-old sandwich. Not to mention all the muck it will accumulate. Flies don't care where they do their doings.

[Not your average framer]

There's no way that I would even consider doing it. There sort of people will never admit that they are wrong and when it ends up getting ruined guess who gets blamed? The framer!

Don't do it!

[framebyframe]

Thank you everyone for your valuable comments. I will give her a price on the museum glass (at least that's what I call it.) I have never had a customer who is willing to pay the cost (exchange rates for us make it prohibitive) perhaps this will be the exception - I hope so otherwise I may lose the job. Sue

[kev@frames]

I was going to say just do the job and take the money, its not your problem if the customer is an idiot.
then something in my head told me not to.
so there really must be something wrong with doing it.
I used to do tapestries years ago for a lady who absolutely insisted on mounts and no glass, she also owned a needlework shop and kept sending people to us for the same. I dread to think what they are looking like now...

I can just about grasp the reasons why they might want a fabric framed with no glass, but not why they would want a mount on it. But a paper item? nah.
What reason has she given, out of curiosity?

personally I'd not do the job. stuff like that can trash your reputation.

[countrystudio]

Knysna, damp winters and hot humid summers. Try educating your client as to the benefits of specialist glass. If she still disagrees, refuse the job.
The cost of the job is not worth the potential damage to your business reputation.