RESTORATION

During the 1960s, 70s and 80s many owners removed old ornate gilded frames and replaced them with a more ‘modern’ style. Many beautifully crafted old frames were thrown out, put in the garage or stored under houses. In recent years many owners have re-discovered these sentimentally and historically important frames. Many are collectables in their own right that deserve to be conserved, though years of neglect may have led to damage, discolouration, cracking and the loss of original features.

Framing Fabulous specializes in the restoration of antique and period frames. We aim to maintain the history of a frame and keep as much of the original patina as possible. It is our passion to bring these frames back to life and restore them to their original condition. This could include a full reconstruction, strip down and re-gild, or fixing a small area of damage to retain the beautiful patina of age.

We work in full consultation with the owner to produce the best and most sympathetic result, using traditional techniques and current conservation practices. Painstaking consideration of colouring in the artwork and the original finishes on the frame is conducted to ensure that authenticity is maintained.

RESTORATION GALLERY

Framing Fabulous provides expert framing of artwork, prints, certificates and diplomas, family photos, scrapbook pages, children’s drawings, needlework, memorabilia and more.

We offer a wide range of mouldings and matt-boards or can design and produce a unique frame. We will draw on years of framing and creativity to help you choose a frame to match the piece being framed, your home or business and reflect your individual style.

We use acid free and conservation quality products and believe the less a work is tampered with the longer it will survive.  We believe that traditional techniques such as Japanese hinging of paper works, hand stitching jerseys, lacing of needle-works and stretching of canvas (rather that gluing them onto a board), are preferable to many methods used widely in the framing industry.

All our frames are finished with high-quality backing tape and are fitted with wire hangers or stand backs, and bump-ons. We can work within your budget and requirements to provide the perfect framing solution.

CUSTOM FRAMING GALLERY

BESPOKE COLLECTION - Framing Fabulous Original Designs

This gallery features unique frames designed and created by Framing Fabulous. Some frames from this collection can be made to order, and new commissions can be taken to design a frame specifically to your needs.

TRADITIONAL GILDING SERVICES

Framing Fabulous uses a range of gilding techniques:

• Water gilding
• Oil gilding
• Schlug metal leaf
• Micas and bronze powders
• Gilded matt-boards

Although our gilding practice is mostly employed in the production, re-production and restoration of frames, we are also able to gild small items. Contact us to see what we can do for you...

Gilding services vary greatly in price depending on the technique used.

WATER GILDING

Water gilding customarily achieves a high lustre, reflective finish using pure gold leaf. As with all gold there are varying karats, ranging from 24k to 9k depending on percentage of silver, copper or platinum that it is alloyed with.

To water gild, the pre prepared surface of gesso and bole (or gilders clay) is flooded with gilders liquor, allowing the leaf to stick to the surface. After sufficient drying the gold is usually burnished (especially in high relief areas of ornamentation) to achieve the highly polished surface. A matte finish is achieved by leaving areas unburnished. Matte finishes can also be achieved by oil gilding.

OIL GILDING

Oil gilding uses a tacky oil based varnish to adhere the gold to the surface. Unlike water gilding, oil gilding can be applied to almost any surface, but cannot be burnished and so does not have the high lustre of water gilding. It does however allow for a much larger variety of applications and therefore finishing techniques.

SCHLUG METAL LEAF

Schlug or Schag metals provide a much cheaper alternative to using pure gold leaf. Aluminium, brass, or an alloy of tin, copper and zinc are usually applied using the oil gilding technique. Various finishing techniques can be applied to these metals and the results can be indistinguishable from the more expensive gold leaf finishes. Alloys do have a tendency to tarnish over time however and although all gilding with schlug metals is sealed, exposure to the elements can effect the finish.

MICAS AND BRONZE POWDERS

Used extensively in the first part of the 20th Century bronze powders often replaced gilding with gold leaf or schlug metal. Many of our family photos have been framed in a stippled gesso and bronze powder finished frame. Over time these powders tend to oxidise and darken, which is why so many of our family treasures look so dusty and discoloured. To restore or re-create an historically accurate frame, micas and bronze powders are still used. Bronze powders can also be burnished or “enamelled” imitating an aged water gilded finish and does not tarnish.

GILDED MATT BOARDS

Gilded matt board is achieved using any of the techniques above and also uses the more modern technique of gilding with 'quicksize'.  A wide variety of finishes can be achieved and used to enhance the piece being framed. Embossing, pastiglia and French lines can be used in conjunction with gilding to achieve a highly decorative rich addition to any artwork.