The Framers Forum

I'm replacing the mount in a frame due to severe foxing, but the customer wants an authentic antique look ( )
He asked if I could stain the mountboard with a tea bag to gain the desired effect.
Should I give it a go or does anyone have any brighter ideas?

Tea contains tanic acid. Perhaps not the best idea!

How big is the frame? Perhaps you can get some old paper somewhere and dry mount it on to your new mount before cutting the mount.

Paint the bevel brown and then dilute the paint you used for that and stipple the rest of the mount with an artists sponge. You could make it darker close to the bevel and a bit darker still close to the frame.

I use to remount a lot of olde stuff for an antique dealer. He was always soaking things in coffee.

One thing I discovered: If you want to simulate old faded velvet, get some board faced with Ingres paper and dab it over with a rag dipped in some very diluted manky brown coloured paint. It looks horrible while you are doing it. But after it's dry and under glass the effect is very convincing.

Daler do a colour -Sand Ingres - which is very useful for old stuff. It already looks like an Ivory which has darkened, mellowed with age. Bit of strategic staining would make it look just the ticket. And the paper takes washes better than the usual flat face papers.