Frame Museum page 1

Updated August 20, 2023

Picture Frames

A new section of Faux Finish frames has been added as Page 5b

Museum Gift Shop on pages 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d & 6e.

A 1920s sign from a photographer who also dealt in picture frames. For a frame collector, it is always nice to collect a few go-withs.

A 1910s photograph of the interior of a picture framing shop.

Taken in China, but it seems to go well with the photos of frames.

An 1880 trade card for a framer working in Philadelphia, mounted in a ca.1910 Mission oak frame.
1880s-90s photo of a child with a framed painting of a soldier. Typically, Victorian homes created many surfaces to exhibit photos and paintings.

Best, An Incredible Find! - A 17th century Dutch frame, found in a Baltimore antique shop, with tortoise shell and bone inlays and ripple borders and inner liners made of ebony wood. Now it contains a 1690 Dutch comet print showing the comet of 1680. The frame is 11 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches od. with a 5 7/8 x 8 inch picture size. (do not use photo without written permission)

Best - A ca.1770, Courting Mirror, hand painted design of flowers w/reverse painted glass insert. Great original finish and old mirror. It is 12 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches od. and has a 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches image size (rabbet).

Best - An 1820s museum quality, American piece made by a talented craftsman. The quality of the work is outstanding with a turned and quartered mahogany inner molding, crotch mahogany veneer, and an outer edge (probably mahogany) that could be called a double or triple ripple. It is 21 x 31 inches od. and has a 14 1/2 x 24 inches pic. size.

Better - An 1820s simple wood example made by a talented furniture maker. American frames of this age are nearly impossible to find. It is 11 1/8 x 22 1/4" outside dimension.

Best - An American mahogany veneer piece with a double rippled edge from the 1820s. It is 9 x 11 inches od. and has an 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inch pic. size. Best - An 1820s rosewood veneer piece with a quarter round bead site. It is 9 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches od. and has an 6 5/8 x 8 1/2 inch pic. size.

Best - An American mahogany veneer piece with a double rippled edge from the 1820s. It is 7 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches od.and has a 4 3/4 x 5 3/4 pic. size. Best - An American mahogany veneer example with a double rippled edge from the 1820s. It is 15 3/8 x 19 1/4 inches od. and has an 11 x 14 3/4 inch pic. size.

Best - An 1830s walnut and brass piece from France. It is 6 x 6" od. I was lucky to find a pair of these. Better - A rare pair of gold-wash, thin, brass over wood examples with period silhouettes from 1835. It is 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches od. and has a 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch pic. size. These hang on my wall with a faux bois, 1835 frame surrounding them.

Good - A very simple painted, grooved wood from the 1830s. 7 1/8 x 8 5/8" od.
Better+ - A birdseye maple veneer from the 1830s. It is 10 1/2 x 14 inches od. and has a pic. size of 8 1/2 x 12 inches.

Best - A rare and large birdseye maple veneer from the 1830s. It is 20 1/8 x 22 1/8" outside and 15 x 17" inside.

Better - A small birdseye maple veneer from the 1830s. This is probably an English frame. It is 7 3/4 x 9 1/4" od.

Best - This is probably the highest quality, blocks-in-corner, mahogany veneer piece that I have ever found. It dates to 1829-1835. It has a high quality mahogany, tapered surround and wood blocks in the corners. It is 14 x 18 inches od. and has an 10 x 14 inch pic. size. Best - A beautiful, mother of pearl and gold on black paper mache from ca.1845. English, it is 9 1/4 x 10 1/4 inches od. and is 5 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches with the center panel removable with the glass that has an image sight 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches.

Best - Rare, tiny, Hicks-style mahogany frame with corner blocks, ca.1835. It is 3 1/4 x 4 1/8 inches od. and has a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch pic. size.

Best - Rare, Small, Hicks-style rosewood frame with corner blocks, ca.1835. It is 6 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches od. and has a 5 x 6 inch pic. size.

Best - Rare, ca.1830, Hicks-style, solid, tiger maple w/corner blocks with dots in the blocks. It is 10 7/8 x 14 7/8 inches od. and has a 8 x 12 inch pic. size.

Best - Rare, hand painted faux bois frame with corner blocks, ca.1835-1845. It is 14 3/4 x 16 7/8 inches od. and has a 12 x 14 inch pic. size.

Best - Finding faux bois (hand painted woodgrain) with blocks in the corners is a rarity. This piece is unusual as it has rounded cross pieces when most are flat. It dates to 1829-1835. It is 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches od. and has an 8 x 12 pic. size.

Best - This and the one to the right are rare overlapping corner construction, mahogany veneer pieces, with blocks in the corners, that date to 1829-1835. It is 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches od. and has a 4 7/8 x 6 3/4 inches pic. size. Better - A nice, early (ca.1835) mahogany with blocks at corners example. Reproductions are being made in this style. Check the back of the piece. It should be dark and show plenty of age. The above one is 13 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches od. and has a 10 1/4 x 13 1/2 inch pic. size.

Better to Best - This is a rare blocks-at-corner construction, high quality mahogany veneer piece, that date to ca.1835. It is 16 x 19 inches od. and has an 12 x 15 inch pic. size. Best - A nice, early (ca.1835) blocks at corners example with a pine surround. It is 14 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches od. and has a 10 x 14 inch pic. size.

Best - An exceptional blocks-in-corner (flame mahogany) construction, high quality, crotch mahogany veneer piece from ca.1830-1840. It has sloping sides and wood blocks in each corner. It is 11 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches od. and has an 8 x 10 inch pic. size.

Best - An exquisite and rare blocks-at-the-corners tiger maple (the natural tiger strip maple has translucent shimmering stripes with depth that change as you move around it) example that date to 1829-1835. It has wood blocks in each corner. It is 12 x 15 inches od. and has a 10 x 13 inch pic. size. Better - A middle grade, mahogany, blocks-at-the-corner style piece dating to the 1830s. It is 12 1/4 x 14 1/2 inch od. and has a 9 x 11 inch pic. size.

Best - An exquisite and rare blocks-at-the-corners, shimmering tiger maple example that date to 1829-1835. It has wood blocks in each corner. It is 16 x 19 inches od. and has a 12 x 15 inch pic. size.

Best - Another rare blocks-at-the-corners, shimmering, tiger maple example that date to 1829-1835. It has wood blocks in each corner. It is 11 5/8 x 16 5/8 inches od. and has a 10 x 14 inch pic. size.

Best - This is a rare multi-image frame. An 1838 black ripple frame w/gilded sight and beautifully made wood divider with 12 ninth plate ambrotypes. The quality of the woodwork on the divider is superb. It is 14 x 16 1/4 inches od. and each image area is 2 x 2 1/2 inches.

Best - These "Ripple" frames are among my favorites. They were only made for a few years and are very difficult to find. Rippled, gesso covered from the 1830s. It is 16 x 19 1/2 inches od.
Best - Rippled, gesso covered from the 1830s. It is 11 x 15 1/8 inches od.

Best - Heavy, rippled, gesso-covered from the 1830s. It is 16 3/4 x 21 3/4 inches od. Best - Another heavy, rippled, gesso-covered from the 1830s. 16 3/4 x 22 1/4 inches od.

Best - This is a rarely seen brown rippled example w/gilded sight from the 1830s. It is 17 1/2 x 23 1/2 inches od. and has a 14 x 20 inches pic. size.

Best - An incredible (the natural tiger strip maple has translucent shimmering stripes with depth that change as you move around it) from the 1830s-40s. It is 8 5/8 x 10 3/8" od. and a 6 1/4 x 8 inch picture size Best - An 1830s Very nice Philadelphia birdseye maple. American frames of this age and quality are nearly impossible to find. It is 9 3/4 x 11 1/2 inches od, 6 1/4 x 8 inches pic. size.

Best - An attractive, carved, solid wood piece from the 1840s-1850. This high quality frame has a mahogany carved solid top backed in pine. It was found in Canada and may have originated in Canada or the upper US states. It is 14 5/8 x 19 1/8 inches od. and a 12 x 16 1/2 inches pic. size.


An 1880 trade card for a framer working in Philadelphia, mounted in a ca.1910 Mission oak frame.	1880s-90s photo of a child with a framed painting of a soldier. Typically, Victorian homes created many surfaces to exhibit photos and paintings.


Best - A ca.1770, Courting Mirror, hand painted design of flowers w/reverse painted glass insert. Great original finish and old mirror. It is 12 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches od. and has a 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches image size (rabbet).


Best - An American mahogany veneer piece with a double rippled edge from the 1820s. It is 9 x 11 inches od. and has an 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inch pic. size.	Best - An 1820s rosewood veneer piece with a quarter round bead site. It is 9 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches od. and has an 6 5/8 x 8 1/2 inch pic. size.


Best - An American mahogany veneer piece with a double rippled edge from the 1820s. It is 7 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches od.and has a 4 3/4 x 5 3/4 pic. size.	Best - An American mahogany veneer example with a double rippled edge from the 1820s. It is 15 3/8 x 19 1/4 inches od. and has an 11 x 14 3/4 inch pic. size.


Best - An 1830s walnut and brass piece from France. It is 6 x 6" od. I was lucky to find a pair of these.	Better - A rare pair of gold-wash, thin, brass over wood examples with period silhouettes from 1835. It is 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches od. and has a 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch pic. size. These hang on my wall with a faux bois, 1835 frame surrounding them.


Good - A very simple painted, grooved wood from the 1830s. 7 1/8 x 8 5/8" od.	Better+ - A birdseye maple veneer from the 1830s. It is 10 1/2 x 14 inches od. and has a pic. size of 8 1/2 x 12 inches.


Best - A rare and large birdseye maple veneer from the 1830s. It is 20 1/8 x 22 1/8" outside and 15 x 17" inside.	Better - A small birdseye maple veneer from the 1830s. This is probably an English frame. It is 7 3/4 x 9 1/4" od.


Best - This is probably the highest quality, blocks-in-corner, mahogany veneer piece that I have ever found. It dates to 1829-1835. It has a high quality mahogany, tapered surround and wood blocks in the corners. It is 14 x 18 inches od. and has an 10 x 14 inch pic. size.	Best - A beautiful, mother of pearl and gold on black paper mache from ca.1845. English, it is 9 1/4 x 10 1/4 inches od. and is 5 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches with the center panel removable with the glass that has an image sight 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches.


Best - Rare, tiny, Hicks-style mahogany frame with corner blocks, ca.1835. It is 3 1/4 x 4 1/8 inches od. and has a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch pic. size.


Best - Rare, hand painted faux bois frame with corner blocks, ca.1835-1845. It is 14 3/4 x 16 7/8 inches od. and has a 12 x 14 inch pic. size.


Best - Finding faux bois (hand painted woodgrain) with blocks in the corners is a rarity. This piece is unusual as it has rounded cross pieces when most are flat. It dates to 1829-1835. It is 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches od. and has an 8 x 12 pic. size.


Best - This and the one to the right are rare overlapping corner construction, mahogany veneer pieces, with blocks in the corners, that date to 1829-1835. It is 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches od. and has a 4 7/8 x 6 3/4 inches pic. size.	Better - A nice, early (ca.1835) mahogany with blocks at corners example. Reproductions are being made in this style. Check the back of the piece. It should be dark and show plenty of age. The above one is 13 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches od. and has a 10 1/4 x 13 1/2 inch pic. size.


Better to Best - This is a rare blocks-at-corner construction, high quality mahogany veneer piece, that date to ca.1835. It is 16 x 19 inches od. and has an 12 x 15 inch pic. size.	Best - A nice, early (ca.1835) blocks at corners example with a pine surround. It is 14 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches od. and has a 10 x 14 inch pic. size.


Best - An exquisite and rare blocks-at-the-corners tiger maple (the natural tiger strip maple has translucent shimmering stripes with depth that change as you move around it) example that date to 1829-1835. It has wood blocks in each corner. It is 12 x 15 inches od. and has a 10 x 13 inch pic. size.	Better - A middle grade, mahogany, blocks-at-the-corner style piece dating to the 1830s. It is 12 1/4 x 14 1/2 inch od. and has a 9 x 11 inch pic. size.


Best - Another rare blocks-at-the-corners, shimmering, tiger maple example that date to 1829-1835. It has wood blocks in each corner. It is 11 5/8 x 16 5/8 inches od. and has a 10 x 14 inch pic. size.


Best - This is a rare multi-image frame. An 1838 black ripple frame w/gilded sight and beautifully made wood divider with 12 ninth plate ambrotypes. The quality of the woodwork on the divider is superb. It is 14 x 16 1/4 inches od. and each image area is 2 x 2 1/2 inches.


Best - These "Ripple" frames are among my favorites. They were only made for a few years and are very difficult to find. Rippled, gesso covered from the 1830s. It is 16 x 19 1/2 inches od.	Best - Rippled, gesso covered from the 1830s. It is 11 x 15 1/8 inches od.


Best - Heavy, rippled, gesso-covered from the 1830s. It is 16 3/4 x 21 3/4 inches od.	Best - Another heavy, rippled, gesso-covered from the 1830s. 16 3/4 x 22 1/4 inches od.


Best - An incredible (the natural tiger strip maple has translucent shimmering stripes with depth that change as you move around it) from the 1830s-40s. It is 8 5/8 x 10 3/8" od. and a 6 1/4 x 8 inch picture size	Best - An 1830s Very nice Philadelphia birdseye maple. American frames of this age and quality are nearly impossible to find. It is 9 3/4 x 11 1/2 inches od, 6 1/4 x 8 inches pic. size.


Best - Another great faux bois finish from about 1840. It is 13 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches od. and has a 10 x 14 inch pic. size. These folk art pieces are extremely tough to find.	Best - A superb faux bois finish from the 1830s-1840s. It is 10 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches od. and has a 7 1/4 x 9 3/4 inch pic. size


Best - A superb tiger stripe faux bois, hand-painted finish from about 1840. It is 10 3/4 x 12 7/8 inches od. with an 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch pic. size.	Better - A higher quality pine piece from the 1840s-1850. Note the raised boarder, a sign of higher quality. 13 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches od. and has a 10 x 14 inch pic. size.


Better - A simple, red-painted (red or blue paint pieces are rare.) frame from the 1840s. 12 1/2 x 16 3/8" od. These simply-finished early frames are very much sought by primitive collectors	Better - A beautifully grained faux bois style from the 1840s. 12 1/2 x 16 3/8 inches od. and 10 1/8 x 14 inch pic. size.


Good - A simple mahogany veneer example from the 1840s. It is 15 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches od. Often called a Currier & Ives frame.	Better - A higher quality mahogany veneer finish from the 1840s. 15 1/8 x 19 3/4 inches od. and 10 x 14 1/4 inch pic. size.