The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-09
Our 0lio.
ART IN PICTURE FRAMES.
From the Ne,c York Times:

day, are subject to change of fashion. The
desire for decorative effect has reached
them, and the plain wooden frame, with its
high polish, would scarcely be found in the
least progressive store. If that is little to
be regretted, the same cannot be said of the
fact that no amount of search would enable
us to find the exquisite carving which, in
early days, made the frame that inclosed a
beautiful picture a gem in itself. 1t would
be almost impossible to find in modern
homes any of those incompatible frames
in intricate carving, which, in the galleries
of Europe, are as worthy of attention as the
masterpieces they embellish. In Antwerp,
more especially, such treasures abound, /,
frames of carved wood from the hand of
Verbruggen, which are worth kings ran
som, which, indeed, no money could buy.
Fashion to-day calls for work of totally
different kind Gliding and bronze have
taken the place of wood, and, within the
last few years, great attention has been paid
to work of the kind, so that the processes
of gliding, bronzing and furnishing have
been brought to the greatest perfection.
1t is very difficult at first sight to gauge
the value of a picture frame indeed, there
would appear to be no accurate standard Of
price. All depends upon the work be-
slowed upon each frame, the genuineness
of the materials used, and the care bestowed
and nicely of the finish. Purchasers are
often surprised at finding that frames which
at first sight appear exactly alike vary
greatly in price, that the one may cost three
or four dollars, and the other four times
the amount but the fact is that they be-
long to two distinct classes, and connois-
seurs, and those who pay attention to the
subject, may readily learn to distinguish
them.
The market is supplied in very large
numbers with what are known as ''auction
frames" which are manufactured by the
thousand and sold to small dealers, auction
eers and peddlers. Apparently heavily
gilded, they are in reality made up of al
most worthless materials, at a cost of per-
haps seventy-fve cents or one dollar, and
are readily sold for twice the amount.
These are the frames which supply the
Southern and Western markets as accom-
paniments to the copies of good or attractive
pictures, for which there is always de-
mand. Such copies are made by artists of
certain calibre at the rate of thirty-five or
forty cents apiece, or at less cost, even
when, as is often the case, Il dealer engages
an aspiring artist by the day or week, and
expects to find eight or ten copies made in
day. Probably it is among this class of
artists that the immortal red lobster crawl
ing over its native rocks originated, doubt
less as an improvement upon the sOmbre
appearance of the original. The frames
which accompany these ingenious works of
art are in every respect worthy of them.
They are constructed of the cheapest and
least durable materials The foundation is
of the commonest fiat board, worth perhaps
five cents, upon which muslin of equal
value is stretched and tackled into position,
preliminaries which furnish occupation for
lads eager to earn three dollars week, who
are expected to turn out an average of a
thousand each in their six working days
Size of glue and water is laid literally over
this foundation with large brush, and as
it dries further wash of more consistency
in which whiting is mixed with the glue
and water is added; the ornamental de-
sign is nodded in a composition of whiting
and glue, and washed over with shellac and
alcohol Now comes the process of first
coloring, and a mixture of fat nut oil, and
yellow ochre is prepared, and with it the
entire surface is washed over.
These various processes completed the
frame is placed away to dry for severa
days, and is then ready for the gliding,
which, in the case of cheap work, is alsc
done by boys, who are supplied with thinly
beaten metal leaves, which are, however, a
good deal thicker than gold leaves, and
which are laid over the oiled surface, ad
herring to it slightly, and are then worked
over the intricacies of the design with {
sash tool. To all appearance such frames
are gilt, but the brass of which the meta
leaf is made is liable to turn black and, as
precaution against this, the frames re
ceive coating of varnish.
1t is easy to understand how by thi;
method the market is kept supplied with
cheap frames, which, moreover, are very
good in appearance. They are not very
/ durable, it is true, soon lose their lustre, anC
are liable to crack at the least exposure to
heat, but then they are very cheap anC
bring pleasure and brightness into many
homes where the expense of handsome
frame could hardly be incurred These
cheap frames follow the fashion too. Al
one time there was great demand for gray
woods fooled and engraved in gold. When
made of thoroughly seasoned material and
artistically decorated, these frames were
quite expensive, but enterprise succeeded
in producing cheap specimens, and the
market for higher-priced varieties was
ruined At the present moment the most
fashionable frames are those of FURNISHED
bronze. They are high-priced and cannot
readily be initiated, and require the greatest
nicely of workmanship and finish. Skilled
artisans are engaged for the gliding and
furnishing at salaries averaging three dol
lars to three and half day, and the very
best materials are used for the entire frame
First class pine wood serves as a founda
ton, and coating of whiting and size fills
up the irregularities in the grain of the
wood, thus securing perfectly smooth sur
face for the reception of the ornamental
design. Even in the most elaborate frames
there is now but little carving, almost al
the designs being nodded, but so carefully
and artistically that they have the appear.
ance of intricate carving. When ready fol
the first gliding the glider takes the frame
in charge, and is first of all obliged to as
certain that the surface is perfectly even
which he secures by rubbing it with fine
sand-paper, coating it with pipe-clay and
again rubbing it with sand-paper. The
process of smoothing with sand-paper is an
important one, several times repeated in the
making of frst-class frame and size and
whiting also play a very prominent part
Portions that are to be FURNISHED receive
three distinct coatings of FURNISHED gold
size, and afterward gold-leaf is laid upon
all the FURNISHED portions with alcohol and