At Master Framers, we have the ability to mill our own mouldings and create our own very custom frames to order. While we have over 300 different profile knives (shapes) to choose from, we often design new knives to use, based on drawings our customers bring to us, or from historical frames we have seen. This variety is what allows us to create special frames for your art. Our custom frames are built and finished one at a time, measured to fit precisely and to allow the proper depth for canvases or other special depth requirements. In addition, our staff can hand carve a frame or use a decorative corner or pattern from the collection of over 2000 composition molds that we own. We can also make our own molds by casting patterns from antique frames or by hand carving a design that we want to duplicate.
Our finish possibilities cover a wide spectrum as well, from natural woods, stains, paints, metal leaf and karat golds in white, yellow and hues in between. Each frame is toned to work with your artwork. Attention to detail is as important to us as it is to you.
The finished project
Touch up
The painting has been hung.
Applying the toning
Scaffolding in Place
Gilding
Worker on scaffolding
The gilding is almost done
This view shows the finished project. The gilded wall gives the illusion of a wide frame surrounding the large painting yet is simple in design so it works with the clean lines of this room.
Another view of the final touch up before the project can be called done.
Now you can see the painting in place as one of the gilders does some touch up before the scaffolding is broken down.
After the gilding was completed the gold needed to be subdued so a stippled wax was applied to tone it down and give it an aged look that would work with the painting.
A frame was needed for a large arched painting that hangs in the fellowship hall of a church. Rather than create an arched frame of a width that would be visually pleasing, we chose to frame it with a narrow band and gild the wall to give it the illusion of a larger frame. Here you see the scaffolding in place and the gilding has been started.
A closeup view of the gilding in process. Each sheet of gold metal leaf is about 6\" square. Each is applied by hand.
This shows a view of one of the gilders at work.
In this image you can see most of the gilding has been completed.