UNAPPRECIATED ART

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22743, 2 December 1935, Page 6

UNAPPRECIATED ART

FRAMING A PICTURE Good wine needs no bush; the art of the vintner is its own recommendation, writes Mary Corringham in the Sydney Morning Herald. But the finest picture can be improved by suitable framing, just as its effectiveness can be handicapped, spoiled even, by a frame that is ill-chosen. Of all the crafts that are a combination of the useful and the artistic, that of framing pictures enjoys far less appreciation than it deserves. We carry a print or an original to a master of the craft and take it for granted that he will frame it in the best possible way. Our confidence springs from accepting something as a matter of course. But we rarely think of the years of varied experience which must lie behind the satisfactory framing of our picture, let alone consider them as at all comparable with the artist’s own years of work. The picture framer has, nevertheless, employment of the most interesting kind, and if he knows that the finer points of his work go unappreciated the deficiency is balanced by the personal satisfaction of doing a ticklish job well. One such craft-worker, who has spent many years in a Hunter street studio, declares that picture framing never loses any of its fascination. He never knows from day to day what class of work he may be called upon to do, and, though he is constantly working at high pressure, there is always something to sustain his interest and energy. He has framed everything from a plaster peacock to a military medal. Almost anything and everything can be framed —though it needs a highlyskilled worker to carry out the unusual requests successfully. As well as oil paintings, water colours, etchings, pencil drawings, aquatints, mezzotints, pastels, portraits of different kinds and photographs, the craftsman may be called upon to frame certificates, diplomas, charts, posters, advertising sheets, maps, architectural plans, mirrors, notices, name plates, tapestry, fancy work, pokerwork, woolwork, samplers, tiles, uniform buttons, medals, trays, lamp stands, hand-painted china, bronzes, plaster casts —indeed, the list seems endless.

Oil paintings arc generally framed with a good width of gold-mounting, fancy corners and centres. Water colours are likewise framed in gold

mountings, of a narrower width, and finished with either cream or gold mounts. Etchings, wood cuts, pencil and charcoal drawings are framed in small oak or polished bead, with mounts : to suit; whilst pastels are placed he- j tween two glasses for safety. Tapestry is framed in small beads, i stained to suit, and is usually tacked '< to a wood stretcher frame so that it ' will keep its shape. Baxter prints look < best when placed on a cream mount with a black ami gold edge, and framed in i a corner-moulded ’ frame. A corner- ! moulded frame suits a Medici print best. Show mounts are made to hold a number ’ of photographs in one frame, and there ’

is wide variety in the frames available for single photographs or snapshot enlargements. Certificates, diplomas, charts are framed in black beads, and mounted or not as the owner requires. Maps and plans are stretched on calico, and var- | nished before being framed, whilst architectural plans are stretched on white mounting boards and finished with coloured borders. Mirrors may be framed in various shapes and sizes. They generally show the edge of the glass, which has been polished or bevelled. Buttons from military or naval uniforms, and war medals appear to best advantage when framed against a black velvet back-

ground. Considerable ingenuity must ba exercised in the framing of such trifle# as flowers, ferns, ribbons, cottons, strings, and similar oddments. But even more than ingenuity is required of the craft-worker—sympathy and a love of beauty, as well as a knowledge of practical details, are just as necessary in the framing of a picture as in the painting of it. And not only in the framing of a picture, but in the framing of the least small article. The sentiment for preservation that is rt sponsible for all demands made upon the frame-maker is worthy of the bes?' ho can give.