Our frames are constructed from bass wood moldings. Wood glue, wooden splines and screws are used in the corners to help support and prevent separation at the joint. We offer both simple and ornate frame styles. Frames with ornamental corner designs are hand carved and then sanded.

The wooden frame bodies are sized with hide glue and receive multiple coatings of gesso. The gessoed frames are hand sanded to a silky smooth finish.

Yellow, red and black clays are applied to the gessoed frames.
The clays contain a hide glue that is reactivated with a water/alcohol mixture called "gilder's liquor". Onto the moistened clay surface the tissue thin sheets of gold leaf are laid by a skilled gilder. After the gilded frame has dried the high surfaces are burnished to a sheen with an agate stone. The panel and low areas are left matte for contrast. We distress our frames to give them an antiqued appearance.