Patina and aging process

Patina is one of the most important elements in giving our antique picture frame replicas an authentic aged appearance. Since our frames are newly made, their aged finish is created entirely by hand through a series of traditional distressing and finishing techniques.

The process involves darkening and distressing the gilded surface, creating small cracks and imperfections, and reproducing the natural wear typically found on antique frames. In some models, we also simulate small wormholes. These are purely decorative and are intentionally created during the aging process; they do not indicate the presence or previous activity of wood-boring insects.

Another important step in creating the patina is gently rubbing the gilded surface with fine steel wool. This process selectively wears away small areas of the gold, reproducing the subtle abrasions and signs of wear typically found on antique picture frames.

Each frame is aged individually by hand, so the final patina may vary slightly from one piece to another. These variations and intentionally created imperfections contribute to the unique character of each frame.

The video below shows how we create the patina and aged appearance on our frames.