Sotheby’s, London: a Collection of Fine Picture Frames…
by The Frame Blog
…will form part of the Old Master & British Paintings Sale, 10 April 2013
This is particularly interesting to everyone concerned with antique and historical picture frames, because there are no longer any dedicated picture frame sales in Britain; if you want to buy such things, you will generally have to travel to Paris, at least. This is, of course, partly the result of the war waged during most of the 20th century by a large proportion of the institutional art world against the picture frame. The image was seen as primary, not to be diluted even by contemporary ornament, and certainly not by collectors’ frames. Museums (especially in the early 20th century) disposed of picture frames, which were thought to distract from the painting, by the bucket-load, and now that we have at last reached the peaceful uplands where contemporary frames are admitted to be the best possible setting for the painting, there are far fewer of them around.
So here are a few glorious frames from Sotheby’s – window shopping in the best meaning of the term – and perhaps you may be tempted to go out and buy the perfect garment for that Le Sueur or Nattier you have hanging around in an unkempt kind of way…
Exhibition in London:
Fri, 05 Apr 13 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Sun, 07 Apr 13 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Mon, 08 Apr 13 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tue, 09 Apr 13 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Lot 162
(A) LOUIS XIII carved & gilded frame with leaf-&-ribbon sight; bunched oak leaf-&-acorn torus with centred flowers;
(B) LOUIS XIIIcarved & gilded frame (altered); scrolling foliage at sight corners; projecting flowered-&-palmette corners; décappé finish
Estimate: 2,500 – 3,500 GBP
Quantity: 2
the former: 59 by 72.7 by 8.9 cm.; 23 1/4 by 28 5/8 by 3 1/2 in.
the latter: 71.8 by 59.1 by 10.8 cm.; 28 1/4 by 23 1/4 by 4 1/4 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 163
(A) SOUTHERN FRENCH LOUIS XIII frame (cut) carved & gilded frame with leaf sight; acanthus leaves at corners-&-centres; flowered back; hazzled borders;
(B) LOUIS XIII carved & gilded frame with leaf-&-ribbon sight; acanthus leaf
Quantity: 2
the former: 111.1 by 75.2 by 10.8 cm.; 43 3/4 by 29 5/8 by 4 1/4 in.
the latter: 67.9 by 56.5 by 7 cm.; 26 3/4 by 22 1/4 by 2 3/4 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 164
(A) LOUIS XIV carved & gilded frame with leaf sight, continuous foliate scrolls with foliate corners-&-centres on a cross-hatched ground; dentil back; all re-cut in the gesso;
(B) FRENCH LATE LOUIS XIV carved & gilded frame with foliate sight corners; plain centre panels and foliate projecting corners-&-strapwork;
(C) LOUIS XIV carved & gilded frame with gadrooned sight (oak slip); undulating foliate scrolls-&-flowers; foliate scrolled palmette corner cartouches; leaf back
Quantity: 3
the former: 80.7 by 63.5 by 14.6 cm.; 31 3/4 by 25 by 5 3/4 in.
the middle: 49.5 by 59.4 by 13.7 cm.; 19 1/2 by 23 3/8 by 5 3/8 in.
the latter: 67.3 by 54.6 by 12.1 cm.; 26 1/2 by 21 1/2 by 4 3/4 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 165
LOUIS XIII carved & gilded oak frame with leaf sight; bunched laurel-&-berry torus, centred at top and base; hazzled borders; original finish
109.9 by 81.3 by 8.9 cm.; 43 1/4 by 32 by 3 1/2 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 166
LOUIS XIV carved & gilded frame with slip; ribbon-&-stave sight; palmette corner-&-centre shell foliate cartouches; finely re-cut in the gesso
80 by 63.8 by 14.6 cm.; 31 1/2 by by 25 1/8 by 5 3/4 in.
slip: 75.9 by 59.4 by 2.3 cm.; 29 7/8 by 23 3/8 by 7/8 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 167
LOUIS XIV carved & gilded oak frame in the style of Bérain, gadrooned sight with centre leaves; corner-&-centre palmette cartouches; continuous foliate strapwork; dentil back
Estimate: 1,800 – 2,500 GBP
67.3 by 83.2 by 14.9 cm.; by 26 1/2 by 32 3/4 by 5 7/8 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 168
(A) LOUIS XIV carved & gilded frame with gadrooned sight edge; leaf-&-flower with palmette cartouche centres; foliate cartouche corners;
(B) LOUIS XIV carved & gilded oak frame, in the style of Bérain, with palmette corner-&-centre cartouches and intermediate shells
Quantity: 2
the former: 86.4 by 61.6 by 7.6 cm.; 34 by 24 1/4 by 3 in.
the latter: 79.4 by 63.2 by 10.8 cm.; 31 1/4 by 24 7/8 by 4 1/4 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 169
RÉGENCE carved & gilded frame with leaf sight; corner-&-centre foliate cartouches; stylised leaf back
77.8 by 63.5 by 13.3 cm.; 31 5/8 by 25 by 5 1/4 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 170
PROVINCIAL ITALIAN 18th century `Salvator Rosa’ carved & gilded frame with stylised leaf sight
97.5 by 77.5 by 8.9 cm.; 38 3/8 by 30 1/2 by 3 1/2 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 171
(A) ENGLISH 18thc carved & gilded frame with gadrooned sight, pierced rocaille hollow; raffle leaf cartouche corners-&-centres linked by swept rails;
(B) ENGLISH carved & gilded `Lely’ pattern frame (altered); sight leaf-&-husk; trailing foliage and flowers at corners-&-centres; stylised leaf back
Quantity: 2
the former: 88 by 66 by 10.2 cm.; 34 5/8 by 26 by 4 in.
the latter: 99.7 by 71.8 by 12.1 cm.; 39 1/4 by 28 1/4 by 4 3/4 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 172
FINE RÉGENCE carved frame with ribbon sight; continuous foliate strapwork and shells; gadrooned rail; cabochon back; later oil gilding
82.9 by 69.5 by 14.3 cm.; 32 5/8 by 27 3/8 by 5 5/8 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
Lot 173
EARLY 17th CENTURY BOLOGNESE carved & gilded cassetta frame with centred husk sight, bead-&-reel; bellflower rail, ribbon back; frieze with undulating foliage in punchwork (applied later)
69.8 by 55.2 by 15.2cm.; 27 1/2 by 21 3/4 by 6 in.
Images are not to scale; measurements are listed by sight size and section width
The Frame Blog 
Oh, what a tremendous information! Lynn, thank you so much!
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You’re very kind, Oksana – thank you! I hope to cover as many different areas to do with frames as possible, in museums, exhibitions, conservation, and the sale rooms..
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