Le Flâneur Bleu

Jonathan Myles-Lea is a British artist and photographer. He also lectures about art, architecture and the history of gardens.

Saturday, 23 February 2013

Creating a 17th century-style picture frame.



Sourcing the timber


Cutting the basic form of the frame to form a chassis. 


Securing the corners with wood glue and 'L' brackets.


Adding a thick moulding on the reverse to add extra depth to the frame.


Front of the frame assembled using two separate timber mouldings added to the chassis.


Detail of mitred corner.


Counter-sunk nail holes and all gaps filled and then sanded.


All corners covered with squares of genuine silk applied using hot rabbit skin glue.


Detail of frame corner showing applied genuine silk squares to prevent cracking.


Making the gesso by first adding rabbit skin glue granules to hot water in a bain marie. 


Adding the whiting (chalk dust) while glue is still hot.


Applying gesso whilst hot.


Gesso applied to the frame in several coats whilst warm.


Frame gessoed with several coats of warm coats.


Gessoed frame dried and sanded.


Frame painted with red Rustin's metal primer.


Gold lines added using bronzing powder on 3-hour gold-size.


Matt black enamel paint applied avoiding gold lines.


Frame completed after application of black bison wax.



10 comments:

  1. Thank you for this valuable information, I hope it is okay that I bookmarked your website for further references.
    Framing Services In London

    ReplyDelete
  2. SpringCleaning Housing Cleaning products and services provided to our customer in an professional way with the well prepared cleaners that you follow exceptional clean-up system, that's been looked after and design to produce consistent very best results. For housing cleaning products and services in Dubai we have now well thought out cleaning services to supply a major change. regular cleaning services dubai

    ReplyDelete
  3. Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! custom picture framers

    ReplyDelete
  4. A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing the information, keep doing awesome... I truly delighted in investigating your site. great asset.. visit

    ReplyDelete
  5. A good blog always comes-up with new and exciting information and while reading I have feel that this blog is really have all those quality that qualify a blog to be a one. more..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Going to graduate school was a positive decision for me. I enjoyed the coursework, the presentations, the fellow students, and the professors. And since my company reimbursed 100% of the tuition, the only cost that I had to pay on my own was for books and supplies. Otherwise, I received a free master’s degree. All that I had to invest was my time. custom picture framers

    ReplyDelete
  7. Numerous early edges have their birthplaces in Dutch ornate plan. Britain promptly embraced this elaborate style, cleaning company in dubai which definitely got on in her American states.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Our feign company is known for depending familiar places into current and up-to-be-mark powerhouses. Established on years of local and worldwide expertise, we completed a way to provide our clients a seamless experience of different portfolios when creating their quarters, workspaces, instruction, business, and heritage.

    Acoustical consultant Toronto

    ReplyDelete