Wood Graining Frame
Category: Frames
Introduction
In April 2025, I completed another challenging project: creating a new frame for A View of the Port of Bridgetown, Barbados from Dyrham Park (National Trust). The project was carried out at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio at Knole House. The sequence shows the process of making this pine frame—from shaping the moulding to applying a wood graining decoration to simulate walnut. The sight edge was oil-gilded and then toned to reduce the brightness of the new gold.
Treatment
The following steps were carried out during the treatment. Mouldings were cut for both the corner sample and the main frame. The wood was cut using a bandsaw, and various profiles were shaped using a router. Laminates were glued with PVA and clamped overnight. The members were shaped using moulding planes, chisels, and sandpaper. Components were joined and glued with PVA using C-clamps. Build-up sections were cut with half-lapped joints, and keys were cut, glued, and trimmed. Mouldings were then glued and screwed onto the build-up.
For the decoration of both the corner sample and main frame, material tests were first carried out on various wood samples. Rabbit skin size was brushed on, followed by two coats of red-tinted gesso (rabbit skin glue with whiting and red ochre), which were roughly smoothed with a damp rag once dry. Two coats of a pale ochre base coat (Dulux acrylic eggshell mixed with Polyvine yellow oxide tint) were applied. A clear acrylic glaze mixed with Polyvine Burnt Umber tint was used for graining and figuring using a dragging brush or mottler. The sight edge was oil-gilded. Antiquing was done with watercolours in light grey, which were painted on and wiped off. Harrell’s Traditional Wax Polish (Khaki W010) was applied, followed by dry dusting with pigments including rottenstone, chalk, and umber, which were brushed on and wiped off. Physical distressing was carried out and the resulting purposeful damages were inpainted using watercolours. Finally, the painting was fitted into the completed frame.
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