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An economics graduate of University College London, I pursued a besuited life for several years before following my passion and undertaking an apprenticeship with an Italian Master Framer. I now have my own business based in London making high quality hand made frames, mirrors and sconces. All my frames are made entirely by hand based on the traditional Italian techniques employed so beautifully for hundreds of years.
All my frames are made entirely by hand based on the traditional Italian techniques of gessoing and gilding. As in the past, the mouldings are usually created out of several pieces of wood, many of them being shaped especially for me. After making the wooden frame, up to six coats of gesso are applied to the surface. When thoroughly dry the gesso is sanded down and bole is painted over the areas which are to be gilded. I use either water or oil gilding and choose from a wide range of antiquing techniques to get the desired finish. Painting is the final stage where I use my own colour mixes built up through several washes the create the right depth and feel. More information.
"Art is limitation, the essence of every picture is the frame."
G K Chesterton
Its not really fair to take someone like G K Chesterton out of context especially since he could write such a good Father Brown detective story, but this quote does make a point. Often picture framing ends up as the poor relation in the decoration of a room, yet with a carefully considered frame, the effect on both the picture and the surroundings can be breathtaking - so many people have told me that they now go round a gallery looking at the frames as well as the pictures. (I hope this has enhanced their visits and not burdened them).
There is an opposing view - will not the frame end up being too important; will it not just swamp the picture? The simple answer is that it will do just what you want it to. You can use a frame to bring out the essence of a picture, or to act as link with its surroundings or really go to town and make a statement. I have a preference and it is to make the picture look as though it was always in the frame - to bring out its essence. This is what I have done with my own collection, although of course I have also made a couple of statements!
Cameos
Cameos became particularly popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,
collected by travellers to Italy while on their Grand Tour. The Greeks and
Romans made intaglios or sealing stamps out of precious and semi precious
gemstones where the image was cut into the stone like a mould. These were
so hard that normal engraving tools would make no impression and so drills,
powered by a bow, were used. The intaglio could then be applied with wax
or soft clay as a seal for anything from documents to boxes and even doors.
They were also used for marking property, and because of their decorative
appeal, as jewellery - set in rings or amulets. Cameos are the relief impressions
of these engraved gemstones. Made out of plaster, they are available in
white, polished black and wax red, framed with a range of backgrounds including
original nineteenth century legal documents, silk or painted gesso. See
them in Gallery 1.
"It is very much lamented, Brutus, that you have no such mirrors as will turn your hidden worthiness into your eye".
Well Shakespeare knew a thing or two about life and if only Brutus had been given a mirror... You have been warned so there is now no excuse. As well as standard mirror glass, I also have antiqued mirror glass which replicates the wonderful patination of age. Both are bevelled.
I hope that you enjoy looking at my frames - new ones are being designed all the time and will be posted to the gallery periodically. Come back soon.