Beware: Proper Hanging Hardware

There is more to fine art picture framing than just aesthetics, proportions, and color theory; we are engineers who need to consider how to combat one of art’s great enemies: gravity. A beautifully made frame with matching mat and fillet are not very useful if they end in a pile of glass on the floor.

Here is a great example: A client used the wrong hanging orientation on their artwork, damaging the hanging hardware and risking an accident. The D-Ring hangers were originally mounted vertically for two hooks or for hanging on a picture rail. The later addition of a wire pulled the D-rings towards the center, twisting the metal almost apart. Yikes!

Do you have a question about the best way to hang a heavy piece of art or a mirror? Bring in your piece for a consultation, or send some photos to info@baasframingstudio.com and we’ll be happy to help!

Standard Wire orientation is a must for most framing projects: the gentle angle of the D-ring mimics the direction of the wire while it is hanging on the wall, thus relieving tension in the hook itself. For picture rail hanging systems, the wires must be directed straight up to attach to the picture rail itself.

Here you can see the difference: the D-Ring on the left is normal. The D-Ring on the right was not hung with proper wire orientation and the pressure has pulled the D-Ring out of shape. This can be dangerous if the hook fails all together.

Moral of the Story: when in doubt give us a call or email! We are more than happy to discuss the best options for safely hanging your art. We guarantee all our frames will have the proper hanging hardware and wire orientation. No bent hooks here!

Framing Redesigns: A Collection of Native Arrowheads

This beautiful mount of hand-collected arrowheads was in need of some attention. The initial glue mount of one of the arrowheads in the top left corner failed, leaving the arrowhead free and potentially damaging the other arrowheads around it.

You can see the fallen arrowhead in the left upper corner. The original frame had a fun, native motif but was not conservation-quality; nor was the mat, as the bevel was brown, indicating acid and the associated discoloration.

So our first course of action was to take apart the old frame and reglue the arrowhead to the backing. In this case, the backing was a extremely unique material: real leather hide! The leather was heavy so there were extra precautions taken to ensure that it would not slide around underneath the new matting.

There is wear and tear around the old frame edges, and a few parts where the veneer was pulling back. A new and deeper frame would allow a true shadow-box treatment.

Once the old matting was removed, we found that the leather had discolored under the mat. Instead of hiding this new element under a mat that would produce the same pinched proportions as before, we opened up the design and leaned into the unique extra line.

Here you can see the depth of the new frame, which allowed a shadowbox to be built. The sides of the box were lined in black to give even more dramatic dimension against the grey/brown top mat.

This extra line became a beautiful addition around the arrowheads and acted almost as a second mat. By moving the mat line outwards and adding several more inches of top-mat around the whole design, the piece became lighter, more focused on the arrowheads, and ultimately more inviting to the eye.

The finished piece: a beautiful woodgrain frame with an open shadowbox in shades of tan, black, and soft brown.

The result is a beautifully reframed piece with better dimensions and Optium Museum Acrylic which lets viewers see the fine details of these exquisite arrowheads up close and with more clarity than before: Stunning!

MORE Best of 2023

So many unique framing projects in 2023, we couldn’t stop at just 6! Enjoy an encore of framing masterpieces!

We created a protective clear acrylic box for this antique ceramic statue from China. A linen base and hidden mounting pin complete the elegant and secure presentation for a precious object. Definitely one of our favorite pieces of the year!

Gilded gold frame and velvet liner on an engraved book plate from Davidson Galleries. (Browse their incredible collection to find more gems like this!) Museum Glass and a delicate filet were added to refurbish this vintage presentation.

A leather printing plate in the shape of a dragon was a memento of a client's travels in Indonesia. The heavy leather was sewn to a linen backboard and we used a deep, textured wood frame to create dimension and Museum Glass for crystal clarity.

This wild and wonderful Frank Kozik print in an acid yellow mat and lipstick red "Gaudi" frame from Roma Moulding was a winner! Nothing subtle about it, which is perfectly psychedelic.

We worked with a new client to frame an autographed copy of To Kill A Mockingbird and a facsimile of the title page. A custom Conservation Plexiglas box holds the book securely without tape or glue. Flax linen and a walnut frame complete the look.

Created for the popular Magic: The Gathering card game, this illustration is all about duality and opposing forces. We extended the concept into the framing with a spliced mat and two-tone iridescent metal frame...Magical! Artwork by Kaja Foglio.

Best of 2023

As we enter the new year, we always take a moment to appreciate the most unique and beautiful framing projects we had the pleasure of working on throughout 2023. It's a joy to reflect on the fine art and family mementos that passed through our studio, and we look forward to providing more amazing design ideas in the year ahead. Enjoy!

"Bronze Fins", print by Shag in a bronze metallic frame by AMCI. If ever there was a frame made for a piece of art, this is it! The black matting adds a dramatic touch.

Stained glass in a silver gilt frame. The floating look was achieved by mounting the inner frame to a sheet of clear acrylic -- a great solution to create privacy in the client's window.

Korean wedding jacket and shirt in an ivory linen shadowbox with ebonized walnut frame from Picture Woods. We took great care in the mounting of this precious item, including the use of Optium Museum Acrylic for optimal clarity and protection from UV light damage.

"Bally" poster by Bernard Villemot gets a classic treatment in a black frame and white mat. Great design never goes out of style!

Collectible masks in silver shadowbox frames: this project turned out super sharp! The masks were mounted to linen boards in contrasting tones. A great example of how small objects can be given greater presence with framing.

The client wanted to amplify the pastel colors and organic feeling of this 2023 concert poster. We pride ourselves on a having huge selection of frame samples (like this pink-and-purple inlaid wood frame from Italy) just for unique projects like this. Fun!

A Visit with the Pope

A client brought mementos of a special visit with the Pope in Rome. A shadowbox frame solution was proposed to accommodate the beanie without crushing it. We decided to inset the smaller items into a window in the mat to give them emphasis and visual organization. Attention was paid to both appropriate aesthetics and overall size. The final result is a gem that protects and presents the memory of this event for the client and his family. 

Photo of The Pope, papal beanie, and a crucifix were elements that needed to be included in the shadowbox. 

A deep shadowbox frame in ornate silver was selected for height to accommodate the 4" beanie. The gilded style was repeated in a smaller silver filet.

Batting was prepared to add volume to the inside of the beanie, which will be sewn to the backing mat. Sewing is archival because it can be undone with a few snips. 

The elements are ready for assembly: frame, mat, and mounted objects. 

The project was finished with Museum Glass to protect it from light damage and offer minimal visual interference. Can you see the glass?