Gesso

This early 20th c.XVI revival gilt marriage mirror was recovered by our team after a severe fire. The 22 karat gilded frame not only needed cleaning, to remove the soot, the gilding needed to be selectively stabilized. Areas of loss were filled with gesso. The fills were leveled and prepared for watergilding.  After the fills were gilded, they were patinated and aged. The original patination of the silvering in the mirror was preserved as well.

The fabrication of a custom gilded frame for an heirloom portrait by William Carqueville. This beautiful portrait from the early 1930s was painted by Chicago artist, William Carqueville (1871-1946). He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and briefly in Paris. While he is known for his realistic paintings, he is most recognized for his lithographic illustrations. His work was published in literary magazines such as Lippencotts, International, Harper’s, Scribner’s, etc. Read more to learn more about the step-by-step process of making a custom finished corner frame for this stunning portrait.

A great before and after example of a recent painting treatment. Through surface cleaning and minor conservation intervention, the painting now represents the artist’s original intention and is now back on display.

Charles Prendergast was a renowned frame-maker at the turn of the century. This heirloom albumen print arrived at our studio for framing. We selected this 3/4″ width, Charles Prendergast-inspired frame. The two-tone 22k and 12k white gold leaf with inscribed flower blossoms at each corner provided visual interest without overwhelming the portrait. With the details of the floral design and the implementation of two different karats of gold leaf, this frame honors the vision of Prendergast by “bringing out the fine points of a good picture”.