Dating a frame

[Fellows Framing]

This lovely old oil on canvas in a ornate gold frame came in recently for a bit of TLC.

Would any be able to advise on its rough age please.

Thanks all.

[prospero]

Late Victorian I'd say.... 1870s (?) Maybe a little later....

[vintage frames]

As has been said, the frame was made in the 19th cent. and is a copy of a 18th cent cove frame.
An original 18th cent example would have been water gilded with the top and inner rails burnished.
On the back you would have seen tapered keys cut in across all four mitres.

Your frame has been oil gilded and made from 'stock moulding' with machine laid compo running pattern and applied acanthus leaf decorations in the corners

The frame is not original to the canvas. It has been cut down to fit.
Have a look at the bottom left and top right mitres on the back of the frame. You can see there is a mismatch in the width of the moulding.
Now turn it over and look at the acanthus leaf on the bottom right and top left.
The detail is crisp and original.
The acanthus leaf on the other two corners is a rather blunt copy taken from the original.

For some reason an inserted gilded slip was put in over the canvas and this hides a considerable area of the artwork. Perhaps to cover some damage or just to make a decorative statement.

The frame does not need any sort of cleaning. It already has a beautiful soft patina.
The losses in the compo can easily be repaired and even Milliput used if compo is unavailable.
Use double strength RSG to re-attach any loose elements.

I would not advise re-gilding any of the worn through areas on the main body of the frame. You could use a selection of watercolours to tone down the exposed gesso on these areas.

Good luck with the project and let us know how you get on.

[Fellows Framing]

Thank you both for your dating expertise! I am of course referring to dating age of frames.

I find it interesting that you can tell so much from looking at a frame. How could i get more knowledge do you think? Are there relevant books or courses about dating frames?

All I have done is glued loos bits on , toned the bare compo down with gold paint and put a new backing on it.

I had almost identical frame with canvas in it come in this week. Again with a wide gold slip so thinking the width may be for decorative purposes.

Thank you
Sarah

[vintage frames]

Well done for disguising so much of the damage showing on that frame.
It's amazing how just a little touch-up with gold paint can transform the whole appearance.

The frame is not a high value item and is of decorative value only, so provided your customer is happy with that level of restoration, it's a win.
Personally, I'm glad you saw fit to leave the overall condition untouched.

You've probably heard of most of the published books on frame history.
Most are quite academic and a bit of a heavy read. They almost all refer to classical motifs on museum frames.
The book which I found the most useful and easy to understand was 'The Art of the Picture Frame' published by the National Portrait Gallery.

What happens however, when word gets out that you can handle frames like this, is that art dealers and collectors start hearing about you and turn up with frames that 'need a bit of attention'.
You will soon build up a reserve of knowledge from listening to these customers.

Just wondering - did you take the canvas out of the frame to see what was behind that insert?

[prospero]

Well done.

It's better not to 'over restore' frames like that. It has acquired character over the decades and a few slight dings or gaps
it the ornamentation don't really detract. As long as areas of bare white gesso are touched in and blended they like fine.
It's a good idea to go round and prod the gently prod the ornaments to identify any lose bits which you can then re-attach.

Unfortunately, many old frames happily hang on walls for years and are subsequently consigned to damp storage areas where
they deteriorate rapidly. Gesso if hygroscopic and will absorb moisture which cause it to crumble away. If they are placed on a
concrete floor the gesso will crumble in days.

[pramsay13]

I like frames, but not that much