Protecting valuable works of art can be expensive business, but things get a whole lot pricier when paintings are framed improperly, becoming subject to damage and losing value. But what can you do to ensure that any valuable or sentimental pieces of art are conserved in framing that will protect them properly?
Ideally you want to invest in the highest level of framing you can afford. The top three framing levels are commended level framing, conservation level framing and museum standard framing, which is the highest level of all. Which level you choose should be determined by the worth of the work of art (whether monetary or sentimental) and the amount that can be spent.
However, you should consider how the condition of the art would affect its future value. It may well be worth spending more than you initially anticipated should it mean the arts value will be fully preserved.
However, even when investing in the very highest levels of framing, such as museum standard framing, it is still possible to receive a substandard service that leaves you with artwork that is highly susceptible to damage.
It is very important that you research the reputation of any company to which you are considering loaning your art. There are also a number of questions you should ask to ensure that your possessions are in safe hands.
Ask if they are insured. All reputable companies should be fully insured to ensure that they, and you, are covered should any accidental damage happen to your artwork whilst in their possession. If they are not insured, go elsewhere.
Check that the framing is done on their premises, and not passed onto a third party. The more a painting is moved around, the more it is at risk of damage, so the last thing you want is for your art to be moving to further locations, particularly without your knowledge.
Ensure that they are cutting the frames to fit the art, and not the other way around. Some framers will trim a piece of art to size so it will fit inside a factory standard frame – and usually without your knowledge. This will not only drastically reduce the value of the artwork, but you probably won’t even be aware this has happened until you come to reframe the work years down the line.
And lastly, make sure that the framers are knowledgeable in handing different types of art, such as canvasses, pastels or textiles. Different types of art require different treatment and if you want to ensure your artwork is in safe hands, whatever type of art it may, you will want to ensure the framers know their stuff. Feel free to ask them a few specialist questions; just to be sure they are not just giving you the answers you want to hear.
About the author: This article was written by James Harper on behalf of Ironbridge Fine Arts and Framing, experts in museum standard framing.