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.
icon in frame
Unframed Icon
Raw frame
Pattern transfer
Punchwork of the gesso
Yellow clay is applied
Gilding
Painting the frame
Another view of painting the frame
Corner detail
This is the completed frame with the Icon installed. A frame like this is best used with a decorative piece like an Icon.
This is a Russian Icon that needed a frame.
Once a design was approved composition was applied along the edges.
The frame has been gessoed and a pattern was drawn onto the surface. Here you can see that pattern being scratched into the gesso surface.
Here is another view of the pattern being transferred to the gesso. This shows a punch being used to create a pattern of dots.
The yellow clay or \"bole\" is applied on top of the gesso to prepare the surface for gilding.
22k gold is laid onto the prepared surface. The red you see is a red clay \"bole\" that will give the gold a warmer tone. The red was applied on top of the yellow.
The frame is painted and will be toned down to match the aged appearance of the Icon.
Another view of the painting of the frame.
This shows a detail of one of the corners of the finished frame with the Icon installed.