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.
Here you can see the same corner sample without any compo ornament and two different ornaments.
A piece of gold metal leaf is applied to the prepared surface. After it is rubbed and sealed, it will be toned to match the frame. Sometimes ornaments are left brighter than the frame, or toned darker or painted to create contrast. It all depends on the ultimate effect desired.
Here you can see the ornament in the corner. It has been prepped for a gold metal leaf finish.
Again using a flexible flat knife or spatula, the ornament is carefully applied to the prepared surface on the frame. Since the compo is soft and flexible, it can be molded to follow the shape of the frame profile.
Using a screen over a pan of hot water the ornaments are steamed to soften them and activate the glue. If they are left too long they will melt and become too soft to use and will lose their detail.
Using a flexible flat knife, the ornaments are sliced off. The remaining compo will be pulled off the board and saved and used again.
The mold is removed leaving the compo on top of the board. Notice the four ornaments.
A book press is used to apply even pressure across the mold. Notice the wooden board.
Once the compo has been pressed into the mold a wooden board is prepared to go on the other side creating a compo sandwich.
The mold is brushed with oil so the compo will release easily from the mold.
The compo is rolled out like clay or dough into a long roll. Then it is cut into lengths about the size of the mold to be used.
The addition of a corner ornament can make your frame look like a closed corner frame. We can add a corner ornament to almost any frame. We can finish it to look like wood, gild it to match a gilded finish or we can paint it to match a painted finish.