PUTTING BONHAMS IN THE FRAME – PICTURE FRAMES FROM THE 16TH TO 19TH CENTURIES

Bonhams next sale of Fine Frames on December 9 in Knightsbridge features a strong collection of stunning frames from the 16^th to the 19^th centuries.

The highlights of the sale include:

• A pair of English 18th Century carved and gilded Carlo Maratta frames (est. £3,000-4,000)
• An Italian late 16th Century ebonised and parcel gilt cassetta frame (est. £2,500-3,500)
• A provincial Louis XIV carved and gilded frame (est. £2,000-3,000)

The most valuable frames sold by Bonhams recently include an Italian 17th Century carved and gilded frame – sold for £4,200.00 (8 July 2009 sale, (Lot 28); An Italian 17th Century carved and gilded frame – sold for £3,840.00 (Lot 99) ; An Italian 16th/early 17th Century gilded cassetta frame – sold for £3,840.00, (Lot 165).

An English 19th Century carved and polychromed Whistler frame – sold for £4,080.00 (1 April 2009 sale, Lot 112); An Italian 17th Century carved and gilded frame – sold for £2,880.00, (Lot 157).

Ruth Graham, Bonhams Frames Specialist, says: “We sell a wide variety of frames and easels sourced from across Europe, ranging in age from the 16^th to the 19^th Century. We find that Italian 16^th and 17^th Century frames are very popular, as are Dutch 17^th Century ebonised ripple frames,  Louis XIV and XV carved and gilded frames and English 19^th Century gilded oak Watts frames.”

“Plainer ‘moulding’ frames are popular choices for clients wishing to cut-down the frame slightly in order to precisely fit their painting – with less detail and pattern to match up, these can be altered quite easily.”

“We have a mix of private buyers and trade buyers from across Europe and the States. Private buyers include clients looking to reframe a particular painting or two, or those looking for a large frame suitable to house a mirror. Museums and galleries often implement long-term programmes of reframing their collections, looking for frames which are more sympathetic and contemporary to the paintings.”

“We would recommend first time buyers to attend the views for the Frames sales in person, as we only illustrate around a third of the frames in the catalogue (also available online). Many clients bring their paintings along to the views as it can be surprising which frames suit the works best – an ebonised frame can sometimes lend a painting more depth and drama than a gilded one, or vice versa.”