Why Use Conservation or Museum Glass?

As framer’s, we see the effects of UV light on artwork, color photographs and textiles every day. Unfortunately, once the damage is done, there is no way to reverse fading caused by light. The best way to protect your treasures is by selecting Conservation or Museum Glass when designing framing. If the piece is already framed, but you suspect it may be fading, we can help you to determine the best course of action and replace the glazing if needed. Just bring it in for a consultation!

Fabric items like this Tibetan cap are highly vulnerable to fading caused by UV light. The deep blue fabric mat can likewise fade over time. We selected Museum Glass for maximum protection and minimum glare.

One question we are frequently asked is: what is the difference between Conservation and Museum Glass? Conservation Glass filters out 99% of the harmful UV rays that cause light damage and looks like regular glass: clear and shiny. Museum Glass also filters out 99% of UV light, but has the added feature of being clear and virtually non-reflective because of a special coating. It allows artwork, objects or textiles to be viewed at every angle with very little glare interference. Both products are also available in acrylic options, with the Optimum Museum Acrylic being the highest quality glazing on the market.

If you own art, photos or prints of high value or personal significance, we’re happy to consult with you to make sure you have protected them properly!

Don't Think You Want a Frame? Try This Solution!

Sometimes customers are looking for a no-frame solution, which has always been challenging for us to accommodate. The old “uni-frames” aren’t very attractive. We’ve been working with our acrylic fabricator to come up with a custom solution and this is it! A “sandwich” of two pieces of acrylic with polished edges holds small to mid-sized artworks. Any size clear border can be used and the hanging cleat is hidden behind the artwork, which will float off the wall slightly when hung.

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Vintage Cake Topper in Acrylic Box: Delicious!

We’re always honored when clients entrust us with their family heirlooms. This decades-old cake-topper was in fragile condition and needed a way to be protected and displayed. The client’s preference for a minimal look led us to the acrylic box solution. We build a custom platform and covered it with a neutral pale grey linen to raise the object inside the box and provide stability. Tiny screws hold the box in place.

Holiday Gift Preview Party

Join us Thursday, November 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. for a preview party featuring new holiday gift items and artwork!

We’ve assembled an amazing collection of hand-crafted items from Northwest artist and fair trade companies this year, including silk-and-wool scarves, colorful felted trivets, laser-cut wood pocket knives and wallets and new ceramics from Cary Lane. Reusable pyrex glass straws make a fun stocking stuffer. We’re excited about three new jewelry lines too: silver and enamel jewelry from Alisha Merrick, vintage Victorian buttons and brass chains from My Mother’s Buttons, and laser-cut brass and silver from A Tea Leaf.

Our Featured Artist is Miguel Lee-Leon, exhibiting abstract works in Venetian plaster and pigment. His rich, textured color fields make a beautiful statement in any home or office!

Join us for some early shopping, cocktails and a fun start to the holiday season!

Contemporary Art Needs A Contemporary Presentation

Modern artwork should be framed with appropriate materials and aesthetics to keep the focus where it belongs: on the art. We chose white molding in a cube shape and a wide white mat for this contemporary mixed media work by Warren Dykeman. Float-mounting the art adds dimension and shows clearly that it is an original, not a reproduction. Because of the large scale, we used Conservation Clear Acrylic to protect it from light and dust and decrease the overall weight of the finished product. If the clients move, they can ship or transport the piece with less risk of damage. 

Original painting on paper by Warren Dykeman. 

Prisma: Custom Framing in Cast Acrylic

We love creating unique framing treatments with the Prisma line! With over 50 colors plus options for texture and pattern treatments, the sky is truly the limit for design options! Prisma is a cast acrylic framing product that is made-to-order for each piece. It's a modern solution for original artwork that needs that special touch. 

"Watermelon" Prisma Frame in Sanded Finish with a white lip frames a Japanese woodblock triptych. The vivid colors of the prints are brought to the fore by the frame. 

Silver Prisma Frame and Museum Glass on Buddhist painting for an ethereal, floating look.