Quality Picture Framing will enhance the appearance of your rare maps and artwork, though its importance goes beyond mere aesthetics. Choosing a reputable custom framer is one of the smartest long term investments you can make. Our team of artisans use only museum-quality archival materials to ensure your artwork remains chemically and physically stable and protected from the rigors of time.
The proof: Our team has more than FIFTY YEARS of experience designing and crafting custom picture framing. We have served over 30,000 satisfied clients with the highest quality custom picture framing. If you've made the investment in a rare map, or want to preserve an important family heirloom, let us help you ensure it is preserved for future generations.
The sad truth is many "custom framers" are still using inappropriate materials and technique, either from ignorance, or to save time or money. Too often we see clients who spent big bucks on their collection have important pieces compromised by poor framing. Techniques have also been vastly updated in the last 20 years. An important item in old framing is at great risk of deterioration. Take a look at your collection - do you see browning? Foxing? Dull color? All are indications of trouble. We consult on restoration and proper custom picture framing of these tragedies on a weekly basis.
If it is important, preserve it.
Our Handmade Frames: A Legacy of Craftsmanship
At The Antiquarium, we offer a wide variety of quality handmade custom picture frames. These are sent to us from workshops around the world with legacies that span generations. The craftsmanship of these pieces is truly unmatched, and we take a great deal of pride in our selection. Because we work directly with frame makers, handmade frames allow immense freedom in terms of customization - from altering colors, to ornamentation, to adjusting the depth of a frame. Our handmade frames are truly special, and we think you'll feel the same.
Most of the time, we will recommend works on paper are custom framed with a rag mat, or fabric wrapped mat. This is important for several reasons: matting helps ensure that a piece will lay flat in the frame, and it prevents artwork from touching the glass. Due to the inevitable changes in humidity and temperature that all artworks experience, art which lays directly against glass can stick; if one attempts to separate the two, irreversible damage to the artwork can occur. We want to take every precaution to preserve a piece’s structural integrity and ensure your art remains in the best condition possible.
Acidic materials should never be used in any kind of archival framing. Therefore, the mats and backing we use have little to no acid content.
Fillets
Adding a fillet (pronounced either fih-LAY or FIH-let) is a simple way to add dimension and definition to your framed artwork. Fillets are thin pieces of moulding with a flat lip on one side, allowing them to fit in between your art and the mat edge. They will typically complement the larger frame's color and style, and as with larger custom picture frames can either be handmade or cut from length moulding. Especially for larger pieces, fillets enhance a matted work's visual interest.
Block
Linework
Hand linework is a dying art that can enhance any custom picture framing project and provide visual definition with more subtlety than a fillet. Italian artist and art historian Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) produced some of the first recorded examples of this kind of decorative matting, filling elaborate albums with his extensive collection of Old Master drawings.
We can add lines of virtually any color imaginable, and for additional decoration we offer marbleized paper borders. You may request specific colors, or one of our artisans will select ink and paper that complement the colors of your image. Mat bevels (edges cut obliquely to prevent the mat from casting shadow) can also be painted to add additional detail.
Block
Glazing
Your choice in glazing can dramatically affect the final appearance of your framed artwork, which is why we encourage our clients to consider a few factors when making their selection.
Glass
Because we use only the best materials, we offer two options : Conservation Clear and Museum Glass. Both have 99% UV protection, an extremely important factor in ensuring the longevity of your artwork. They differ in two respects: Museum Glass is designed specifically to provide the clearest view of your item possible, and is therefore more glare-resistant than Conservation Clear. There is also a price differential between the two, which varies depending on your piece's size and the amount of glass required for framing.
Acrylic
For certain projects, we elect to glaze with acrylic. This is because certain media are not compatible with glass from a conservation standpoint, and because very large pieces of glass pose a safety hazard due to their weight and risk of shattering. We offer a choice between UV Clear and Museum Acrylic, the acrylic counterparts to Conservation Clear and Museum Glass.
Embossing
Our highly skilled framers have years of experience working with fabric. They create incredible embossed detailing on fabric mats and backing, the perfect addition to any shadowbox or float frame. We also offer paper cutout detailing, a popular addition to many of the college diplomas we frame.
Block
Other Framing and Display Options: Statuary, Historical Artifacts, etc.
If you have an item you would like to display that will not fit in a standard custom picture frame, we will work closely with you on display alternatives. We collaborate with expert fabricators who have years of experience constructing museum quality display cases for pieces of every shape and size.
Length Moulding
At times, length moulding is appropriate due to a piece's size, the budget, or time constraints. Because this moulding comes pre-made to us for assembly, options for customization are limited. We have thousands of beautiful length moulding samples in stock for these projects.
Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.
