Pastoral Landscape with Sheep and River by Edwin Cole

Posted by millerfenwood in Frame Restoration, Works on Canvas

This pastoral landscape by Edwin Cole (1868-c.1935) suffered from a dry linen that had led to paint loss in one area, as well as dirt particulates across the surface. The original frame in a Louis XV style, had suffered structural and ornamental losses.

New linen improved the foundational strength of the painting, and in-fill and in-painting concealed the area of loss. Deep and careful cleaning had a dramatic effect on the colors, enriching them back to their original shades. The frame was cleaned, backed-up, and re-fortified to return its structural stability. The degradation of the ornamentation was left as is, per the customer’s bidding.

Edwin Cole was born in Shrewsbury in 1868, the son of artists T.W. Cole and Mary Elizabeth Lewis. Be is best known for landscapes and Shropshire scenes. He began his career as an heraldic artist and painter of church windows, but then became Shrewsbury’s most successful painter. Several works of his are in the National Collection, including Untitled Landscape (Shrewsbury Museum), Lloyd’s Mansion (Shrewsbury Museum) and Abbey Church from West, 1886 (Shrewsbury Museum).

Handmade Museum Quality Frames and Frame Restoration

Posted by millerfenwood in Custom Frames, Frame Restoration

We wanted to highlight the range of frame options we are able to provide.

Here’s a recent Otto Palding (1887-1964) winterscape that we made a custom frame for. It’s a Modernist American Step with primitive qualities that make is similar to a Hicks Frame and that we think make it aesthetically match with the subject matter. We used black and yellow clays, and finished it with white gold. The painting measures 34″ x 20.”

This antique frame had extensive degradation to the ornamentation caused by dehydration and buckling. Molds were made from composition and then casts were used to reintroduce the lost ornamentation. New gesso, clay, and gilding married the new portions to the old. Micro vacuuming removed surface contaminates.

Custom 22K Duch Modernist frame prepared for a long-time client and local artist, Dawn Stafford. Basswood is cut to dimensions in our woodshed with a custom blade and then mitered and joined. Sanding prepares the surface for gesso, and then clays and a touching of steel wool finalize it before it comes to the studio. Gilding gives the frame a decadence and interplays with the tonal aspects of the subject matter. Basswood is one of our preferred wood types as it is usually devoid of resin and thus favorable for gilding.

Photograph of Mrs. Dean

Posted by millerfenwood in Frame Restoration, Works on Paper

This photograph of a Grand Rapids resident, Mrs. Dean, had been stored in the attic of her home. After the home changed hands, the new homeowners discovered this photograph, fell in love with it, and brought it in for restoration.

The photograph’s composition was very dry, the result of no AC in the attic, and there were surface contaminates across the front, the painting and frame had actually been under soot. Despite this situation, the photograph was in remarkable shape.

Micro-vacuuming and a feather duster cleaned the photograph surface and removed the dry particles. About half of the frame’s ornamentation had been lost, and the remaining half was very dry and close to falling off. With casts and molds, the lost ornamentation was replaced. Clays and gilding resurfaced the entire frame and dirty shellac was added to match the old and the new. The original, antique glass was conserved.

Above her head and next to her right shoulder are reflections that the antique glass picked up.

TALLMADGE AND WATSON ARCHITECT SKETCH FINISHED

Posted by millerfenwood in Frame Restoration, Works on Paper

This first edition sketch by Tallmadge and Watson Architects of the Saugatuck Woman’s Club is ready to be returned. Chemistry baths lifted the stains that came from acid contamination, of which there was quite a bit. Besides the stains, there was widespread mold invasion. Another round of chemistry baths neutralized these. Careful cleaning across the surface removed dirt contaminates and returned a clarity to the image.

The frame is original, and what’s typical of this period, for architect sketches, is to use a gilded, natural-wood frame. After cleaning, we saw that in the recesses, the frame did at one time have this aesthetic. Once cleaning was complete, we returned this finish in the period standard. To finish, UV-filtering glass was added to help protect this lovely piece of local history that we were very grateful to be able to work on.

In 1905 Thomas Tallmadge decided to start his own architectural firm with draftsman Vernon S. Watson. Although Watson was the chief designer, Tallmadge became the face of the firm due to his commitment as a historian and teacher. He taught at the Armour Institute of Technology from 1906 to 1926. Tallmadge is credited for coining the term “Chicago school” in an article for Architectural Review to describe the recent trends in architecture pioneered by Burnham, Louis Sullivan, and others. Tallmadge took sole control over the firm after Watson retired in 1936. They were best known for their Prairie School works.