The Frame Blog

This auction will be held by Thierry de Maigret at the Hôtel Drouot at 11.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. local time on Tuesday 11 March. It includes a variety of frames, including some from the collection of the Berès family; the 518 lots comprise a wide range of periods, from the 16^th /17^th century to the 20^th century, and a correspondingly wide range of styles and prices.  See the entire catalogue online here.

Lot 6: An 18^th century NeoClassical Louis XVI carved giltwood looking-glass frame with a trophy celebrating betrothal or marriage, composed of a basket with two doves (an attribute of Aphrodite, goddess of love), with sprays of myrtle leaves (also associated with Aphrodite and used in wedding crowns in the ancient world); garlands of bay leaves depend from the basket and fall down the sides of the frame; a wreath of rose leaves and buds (the flower of love) curves over the basket; drops of bay leaves depend from the lower, outset corners. The main structure has a slender frieze at the top edge, curving into a central concave with dentil-like motifs; beads at the sight edge; antique mirrored plate; 101 x 67 cm. overall; estimate: €800-1,200

Lot 11: A carved, stained and polished frame, with a waving or twiggy motif at the top edge; a wide, gently concave and canted frieze carved in shallow relief with undulating thistle leaves (a symbol of magic, protection, courage and strength) on a textured ground, with leaves in the corners; stepped sight edge with small canted corners; late 19^th century; 136 x 197 x 21 cm.; estimate: €2,500-3,500

Lot 16: A Baroque Roman carved limewood (bass wood) ‘Salvator Rosa’ frame; with centred and bound imbricated bay or olive leaves on the top edge; centre cavetto; acanthus leaf-&-shield on the ogee at the sight edge; finished with silverleaf and lacquered to a pale gold; late 17^th or early 18^th century; 73 x 99 x 9 cm.; worn gilding, small losses; estimate: €2,000-2,500

Lot 36:  Two frames carved in limewood (bass wood); ogee bolection profiles finished with dark greenish faux marbre, with gilded corner panels inscribed with foliage and trailing ribands on a hazzled ground, with additional diapering; with gilt sight edge; possibly Provençale; late 17^th or early 18^th century; 59.5 x 72 x 7 cm.; estimate: €1,500-2,000

Lot 116: A large-scale looking-glass frame with segmentally-arched top; with an important torus moulding decorated in cast plaster with a garland of oak leaves, acorns, rose leaves and flowers, with pearls at the sight edge; gilded; small losses; 260 x 171cm. overall; estimate: €1,000-1,500

Lot 178: A flat oak artist’s style frame with deeply canted sight edge, stained and polished; early 20^th century; 47.8 x 63 x 10.5 cm.; estimate:  €150-180

Lot 218: A later 19^th (or very early 20^th) century French Degas-style cushion frame, with combed plaster flat reeding, finished in a deep cream lacquer with gilded sight edge; 38.5 x 48 x 8 cm.; losses; estimate: €150-180

Lot 233:  Two artist’s style frames in polished wood, with stepped and canted profiles; 1920s-30s, 49 x 62 x 6 cm.: estimate €400-600

Lot 237: A large Italian scotia frame in poplar (?), 18^th or early 19^th century, 71 x 98 x 11 cm., antique hanger; estimate: €400-600

Lot 264: A Baroque Roman carved wood (poplar?) ‘Salvator Rosa’ frame; with a cable moulding below the top edge; centre cavetto; acanthus leaf-&-shield on the ogee at the sight edge; finished with silverleaf and lacquered to gold; early 18^th century; 20 x 30 x 7 cm.; estimate: €650-750

Lot 279: A French NeoClassical carved and gilded oak frame; with a spiralling ribbon (centred on the long sides) below the top edge; quarter round cavetto to frieze; rais-de-coeur at sight edge; stamped on reverse ‘INFROIT’, and ‘JME’ (the initials of the jures-menuisiers-ébénistes, the inspecting officials of the Académie de Saint-Luc); 44 x 35.5 x 11 cm.; cut down at some point; estimate: €500-600

Lot 315: A 19^th century French NeoClassical revival gilded wood and plaster scotia frame; with piastres on the top edge; flutes in the hollow with acanthus leaf corners; curling acanthus tips on an astragal above the sight edge; 41.5 x 51 x 10 cm.; estimate: €100-150

Lot 328: A 16^th/ 17^th century Italian carved giltwood frame with six orders of ornament; with leaf-tip back edge; centred stopped-channel fluting on the top edge; scrolling foliage and flowers on a cross-hatched ground on the frieze; enriched chain; centred bound torus with bunched bay leaves; beads at the sight edge; 40 x 25.5 x 12 cm.; estimate: €6,000-8,000

Lot 333: An early 18^th century North Italian carved and gilded limewood (bass wood) ogee frame; with projecting scrolling foliate corners and centres on an overall hatched ground; 52 x 42 x 6.5 cm.; estimate: €1,500-2,500

Lot 335: A Louis XIV carved and gilded oak frame; with scrolling foliate strapwork ornament, with leaf buds, reversed scallop shell centres and foliated fanned lambrequin corners, all on a cross-hatched ground on the ogee top edge; sanded frieze; small spiralling leaf torus, centred on a floret, above the sight edge; no dimensions given; rabbet repaired; estimate: €2,500-3,500

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Viewing day: Monday 10^th March 2025, Salle 14, Hôtel Drouot, 9 rue Drouot, Paris 75009

Contact email: plarcheveque@tdemaigret.fr

Contact ‘phone no.: +33 (0) 144 839 520

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