Potawatomi rattle made of  deer hide, beads, cotton, and pumpkin seeds, from the 1890s, came in with tears in a few places, as well as loose stitching. Besides mending the tears and redoing the stitching, we reconditioned the leather; and to display the rattle, made a custom stand.

The stand is made from mahogany with the display panel wrapped in suede. A custom decorative band was fitted along the arm, to compliment the style and craftsmanship of the rattle, with the woodwork. The beads to make the band were acquired at a Potawatomi pow-wow, and obtained in the authentic custom, by trading for them. When tribal elders were told of the purpose for the beads, they gave their consent and blessing.

American landscape painter, Christine Sullivan, is one of our favorite painters. For these seascapes we made modern interpretation of classic styles, ranging from Louis XVI’s to Dutch, to 17th Century, and an original Shamberg. All frames are white gold over yellow and black or purple clays.

We love working with living artists, and see it as an opportunity to both understand what the painter’s grappling with and what’s the best manner to formalize the presence of the work in the world. The frame helps define the space that the artist is attempting to create.