Frame
early 17th century or 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Separate wooden picture frames were used in Italy from about the 15th century, although they developed from earlier frames in both metal and wood on altarpieces. They were used to protect and enhance both secular and religious paintings.
As well as many picture frames acquired with paintings, the V&A acquired some frames - principally Italian renaissance in origin or style - as independent objects. They were usually chosen for the fine quality of their carving and decorative effects, and many are gilded using various techniques. Many of the ornaments used are classical and architectural in origin.
This type of ebony veneered frame was made in Augsburg, Naples and northern Italy around the early 17th century. The extreme hardness of ebony makes it difficult to date, but the use of a pearwood backframe (instead of, for example, poplar or a softwood) and the very clean condition of the gilt ornament makes it possible that this was actually made in the 19th century.
As well as many picture frames acquired with paintings, the V&A acquired some frames - principally Italian renaissance in origin or style - as independent objects. They were usually chosen for the fine quality of their carving and decorative effects, and many are gilded using various techniques. Many of the ornaments used are classical and architectural in origin.
This type of ebony veneered frame was made in Augsburg, Naples and northern Italy around the early 17th century. The extreme hardness of ebony makes it difficult to date, but the use of a pearwood backframe (instead of, for example, poplar or a softwood) and the very clean condition of the gilt ornament makes it possible that this was actually made in the 19th century.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pearwood veneered with ebony, with gilded decoration |
| Brief description | North Italian or Augsburg c.1600, possibly 19th century, ebony? |
| Physical description | A tabernacle frame with cassetta type surround, with an antependium centred on a rectangular panel, with corbels, and above a triangular, broken pediment supported by brackets, with central rectangular panel surmounted by a lunette; with applied ebony mouldings on a pearwood back, and shell-gold arabesque ornaments at the corners and centres of each side, and on the rectangular panels and corbels. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought for £12. 5s. 5d; lot 112 at the Bonnaffé sale. Edmund Bonnaffé collection. Papers on the Fulgence nominal file. 25 lots were purchased at the Bonnaffé sale 1/5/1897 at Rue Drouot, Paris, via M. Fulgence (a dealer, who bid on behalf of the Museum): museum nos. 489-1897 to 517-1897 inclusive. Museum staff visited Bonnaffé's house at Passy on 28/4/1897, before the private view of the sale, with B assisting and offering information on the history of each piece and repairs that had been carried out. 32 pieces were selected for biddign, the 'gem of the collection' being a 'very beautiful piece of French Renaissance furniture - No. 349 - a small credence or cupboard, which we have valued at 10,000 frances (£400)'. The Museum hoped that George Salting would continue the bidding if/when the bids exceeded the SKM limit, but in the event, neither the Museum nor Salting bought it. |
| Production | Northern Italy or Augsburg |
| Summary | Separate wooden picture frames were used in Italy from about the 15th century, although they developed from earlier frames in both metal and wood on altarpieces. They were used to protect and enhance both secular and religious paintings. As well as many picture frames acquired with paintings, the V&A acquired some frames - principally Italian renaissance in origin or style - as independent objects. They were usually chosen for the fine quality of their carving and decorative effects, and many are gilded using various techniques. Many of the ornaments used are classical and architectural in origin. This type of ebony veneered frame was made in Augsburg, Naples and northern Italy around the early 17th century. The extreme hardness of ebony makes it difficult to date, but the use of a pearwood backframe (instead of, for example, poplar or a softwood) and the very clean condition of the gilt ornament makes it possible that this was actually made in the 19th century. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 498-1897 |
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| Record created | December 21, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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