Antique Gesso Picture Frames
Antique gesso picture frames appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. When we talk about gesso frames, we are referring to wood frames with decorations in gesso. There is no picture frame in history made completely of gesso, so a wood structure is the base of antique gesso frames.
Antique gesso picture frames are faster to realize than antique wood picture frames. Consequently, they are less expensive, because a gilder needs just molds and gesso to manufacture them. On the contrary, the carving process of wood frames is done by a slow and diligent method, in which any carved detail has to be made one by one with gouges, and of course, with no help of molds.
On the other hand, significantly rich antique gesso frames require a sophisticated skill to be made, because gesso, for certain types of shapes and decorations, could be more difficult to work than wood. Finally, as the two different techniques might be so challenging, the ones in charge of doing them are two different kinds of artisans: Gilders usually realize gesso picture frames, while carvers do wood frames.
Why complex gesso frames are difficult to realize?
There are models of 19th-century gesso picture frames quite elaborate. Above all, when they have a crest of curled acanthus leaves there’s a tough work underneath. If the crest is in gesso indeed, it must have a metal soul inside. On the contrary, it could not stand by itself on the top of the frame.
Therefore, a gilder with the skills to create such a refined work has to be considered a master. It’s easy to manufacture the little gesso ornamentations that lie along the four sides of the frame. However, creating the metal structure hidden inside the crest is completely different. That takes a deep experience in craftmanship.
Antique gesso frames have been a symbol of the 19th-century era. Master gilders, in fact, became so experts in using the gesso technique that they did not need carvers anymore. Their work replaced fully hand-carved models with the intent of manufacturing goods at a faster pace. As a result, if before the 1800s frames were rigorously carved on softwood or hardwoods like walnut, after the 19th century, carved frames almost disappeared because antique gesso picture frames took their place.
Antique gesso frames and wood frames
So, why was there this sudden switch in the way frames were manufactured in history? We suggest that the main reason is the Industrial Revolution. That happened in the middle of the 19th century in England and then spread quickly to Western Europe.
The production of goods had to increase so much that most of the production systems were transformed. In the case of frames, the carving process was too long and did not allow the goods to boost in the market. Antique gesso frames with their gesso decorations solved the problem. As a result, this new technique became the primary source for building high-quality frames for masterworks.
OUR antique gesso picture frames
Here we explain step by step which material to use for the manufacture of antique gesso picture frames. First of all, we realize the wood profile of the frame which will serve as a base. Second, we put on top of it the gesso ornaments. As you probably already know, this procedure is pretty fast compared to the more ancient procedure of carving ornates.
Gesso is made with rabbit glue, flour, and water. We melt them together in a pot on the stove. What you get is a paste that will be finally mixed with gesso to get dry. From now on, one can get a bit of gesso paste, put it onto molds, and get a nice decoration ready to be applied along the sides of the frame.
When the ornates dry on top of the frame, they are a bit dull. Indeed, they need to be worked on to be transformed into sharp and refined decorations. This process is tremendously faster compared to carving procedures. But still, too slow compared to the new technique that we will discuss in the next paragraph! Keep on reading to learn more about it.
A new system to speed up the process
To fasten the process of building gesso picture frames we use wood pulp. Our wood pulp is an invention of a few years ago: It is very innovative and easy to handle. We prefer it because when it gets dry becomes stronger and more durable than gesso. See a video on our YouTube channel to check our technique.
Also, the dry wood pulp decorations are easy to be recarved. As Gesso, wood pulp is dull when we get it out from molds. So, after a recarving process of it, things change quite a lot because we’ll reach astonishing results without losing in quality. In fact, we obtain more resistant products compared to traditional antique gesso picture frames.
In other words, when gilders remodel the gesso, they still use chisels. Unfortunately, as the dry gesso is fragile, it can get broken easily. That doesn’t happen often using wood pulp because of its good properties, which indeed are almost the same as wood.
Our main mission is to pay attention to the final result of our products. For us, it’s a priority. As you won’t be able to see gesso underneath the gilding, why not push the technique even further? During the 1800s’ gilders started using gesso to save time and achieve a massive production of frames, becoming certain ateliers almost as little factories. We recognize that gesso is not better than wood and that its use is determined just by the purpose of saving money and time. Finally, why don’t try to regain the more sophisticated quality of wood, maintaining the crucial benefits of gesso? The answer is the reason why we decided to go for wood pulp to reach even better results.
Expensive antique gesso picture frames
It still happens that certain clients ask for reproductions with the same characteristics and materials as authentic antique gesso frames. When this happens, usually they don’t just ask for gesso decorations, but for genuine gold leaf and red bole as well. Therefore, in this case, we use strictly traditional techniques and materials to realize expensive replicas made with the same procedure master gilders used during the 19th century.
At the end of the work, a customer has a hard time telling our reproductions apart from the originals because one should break apart the frame to analyze and or verify that they are new.
As we try to make customers happy, we still use, under request, old techniques! If you decide to possess an expensive frame made with the same procedures as the original antique gesso frames, mail us your request. We will surely be able to achieve the result.
CUSTOM FRENCH GESSO FRAMES FOR SALE
We can personalize any element of our products. In addition, we realize antique gesso picture frames in any size and for any painting. You may ask for dramatic changes in the finishings of our standard models. If that is your intention, send us pictures explaining your ideas, and we will interpret them as best as possible. You could even customize the profile size and the width of any model.
France and its role concerning antique gesso frames
France had a significant role in the production of antique gesso frames. It is a fact that French gilders mastered the technique of gesso decorations much better than others. See down below a couple of links to our models where you will appreciate the sophisticated ornamentations of two French-style frames.
Barbizon picture frame
Empire picture frame
During the 1800s plenty of styles and new techniques developed around European countries. From France, the gesso technique spread all over Western Europe. See below a couple of fine Victorian gesso frames. They’re similar to French models. The same happened to the Italian models: They were very influenced by French gesso frames as well.
Victorian style picture frame
Gold Victorian frame
With that said, we want to wrap up underlying the crucial value of French craftmanship, especially related to works realized with gesso. This is the reason why you will find on our website a lot of French models. As we love to replicate top-quality frames of the past, we focused pretty much on the vast production that took place in France during the 1800s. Their primacy in the field is indisputable and inevitably forces us all to pay deep attention to the elegance of their work.