The Framers Forum

Asking about the genuine articles rather than synthetic equivalents.

Do you have experience of the media?

Jerome, Yes. They are, of course, concerned. They sell a lot of it and haven’t heard anything untoward. However I have confirmed with one friend that the smell is indeed unusual. He is in agreement, he had noticed the unusual smell, so now we are both concerned! (As he darkly commented, ‘perhaps it ...

Hi, Concerns over quality. I wonder if anyone has noticed anything strange about Handover’s general purpose rsg. We bought a 1kg batch recenty (we normally use Robersons). A) The smell was especially stringent, similar to that of an old urinal; B) The water take-up on overnight soaking was considera...

Prospero, that’s great, thx, am now getting visions of him at B&Q.... ‘eh, per favore, that’ll be on Leo’s tab’... ‘scusa, senore, ma, the cardinal says no more credit for you boys!’

You could try tempera if you didn’t fancy the snobby F&B... Ask the local farmer if there is an exposed riverbank of clay nearby. Take some ice cream sized scoops, melt the clay into a large pale of water, sift with muslin a few times and leave on the stove to dry out. Then, when dry, mash it up...

Nice one. And have a glass of really good burgundy while you wait.
What do you think the process is in that frame? Really coarse sandpaper scrapping back to the base coat? But there’s a deal more magic to it than that...
Prospero, you’re nifty at this sort of thing, no?

You should try Annie Sloan’s range, makes F&B look postively plebeian. Oops sorry.
Here’s a nice painted lady round a German impressionist painting, sold for a shed load in that harlot’s yard, namely Bond Street.

Thank you, Dermot. You are so kind with your help, thx.

Thanks, James. Ever helpful.
Here is the example at the Lowry. Utterly beautiful, like gun metal. Doesn’t show in the photo. But, you know, one risks life and limb running photograph prohibition at museums.

Brilliant posts. I saw a Lowry at the Lowry in Manchester in a very subtle patinated frame. In a way your first photo may have been the route to achieving what looked so good in the museum. But in that case, I guess, it was a thin profile moulding where perhaps the process was less fierce and or a l...

Can anyone advise on sealing natural bole/clay. It is a broad field of bole, 5 inches wide running up to two rails, a slight cove and sight edge of 23.5 ct gold. Not sure what to do. I like the unsealed look of the gold. Richard (both), Dermot etc., I would be particularly grateful and trust your ad...

Hi Dermot,
After fairly exhaustive experimentation and tganks to your gold supplier lead, I have come to the conclusion that it is a shellac wash, possibly with a dye, on 12ct. Well, that’s the next avenue to explore

Thanks, Dermot.
They sent a book, very efficiently and I may have the candidate — their 12 ct is warmer than I had anticipated. They were a pleasure to deal with and my pockets are empty once more.
Very kind of you to share the recommendation.
.

I wondered if it could be champagne?
Seems sweeter, more a hint of mandarin in the shades than moongold. But perhaps I ought to defer to your (much) greater knowledge. Silver with a warm wash could be.

Thanks, Dermott. Much appreciated.

Hi guys,
Any ideas which gold this is ?
Mucho appreciated....

Thanks. Googling 'swept' seems to direct one to this (2nd attachment). But also there is one image of the sort of shark's fin shape I am after. (Top right 1st attachment)

Is there a generic name for this classical shape (see attachment)?
The closest seems to be Greek Scotia, but perhaps there is a more modern and specific name.
With thanks for any help.

A bit off topic; But Richard (if you see this), thanks for the 'follow' on IG -- by way of thanks, check this awesome piece of fluid chasteness at Tate Mod, on a Giaccometti if memory serves correctly.

Or am I being dim, the table mounted router is best?

Thanks, Mark. All makes complete sense to me. The no glue bit calls to mind Stevenson's lighthouse, Skerryvore, 100 miles west of here. The masonary was cut with such precision and no cement was needed. Thanks, James. Yes, I must get the router onto it. But am slightly nervous of breaking the joints...