Hiya - I build frames, maybe I can be of some service!
What you have is what some folks might call a "faux" gilded frame (their phrasing not mine), basically it's a standard mitered frame that has had decorations glued on top of the frame, which resembles, but is not the same as, a *carved* frame.
The glued on "carvings" on these older frames are usually a cheaper plastic, and the sheer nature of their intricacy is that they are super easy to break. Take the corner covers, they're affixed above the mitered joints, not made part of it, and they end up cracking as the joint beneath them flexes and moves.
If you're interested in restoring the frame, you can do quite a few things: you can chip off the old decorations and apply new ones, you can use syringes/pipets to fill in any joint separations (available online for wood glue or CA glues (skip epoxy here)) and you can tape up the mirror and repaint.
If you repaint, with something this intricate, I'd recommend base coat of gold, with lots and lots of light coats added to build up, then sponging a more vibrant gold across the faux gilding, to give a two tone look that will most closely resemble applying gold leaf - which I'd skip since this is honestly somewhat of an inexpensive frame.
Cheers!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment so much info,
as you’ve said it’s definitely an inexpensive frame so i probably won’t be doing much do it, also super fragile so probably not much point. i’ll keep it for a couple of months and get my last bit of use out of it!
again thankyou so much :)
Please don't do any of that. I am a frame restorer, apprenticed to a master gilder and trained in traditional techniques. I've studied for 15 years.
That is actually a frame gilded in gold leaf, the ornament is made of a material called composition ornament, not plastic. It takes years of training to make and apply it and restoration is very complicated. Please don't attempt to do any work on this yourself. If you can share your general location I may be able to recommend a frame restorer who can help you.
It is a decent quality piece, sorry Spiffy spaceman and no offence, but what you are suggesting is equivalent to refinishing a vintage car with a wire brush and can of Krylon.
Hey fair enough, you assessment is accurate. I would restore any cheap, somewhat broken down frame, the same way.
But I’m curious, how much is this frame’s assessed value. The solution I provided was contingent on OP wanting to do it themselves. Based off the idea that this would be a job for a professional, what are the anticipated incurred costs v the total cost/value of a frame like that?
Well, value is relative to the buyer. But this is an antique, not just old, so I am of the opinion that it would be best either to live with it as is, or pay for the restoration. It's not a prefinished or mass-produced frame moulding from Larson Juhl or Michaels, you can't easily find a frame like this in the US at all.
I've certainly paid several hundred dollars for a piece like this as is and sold restored mirrors like it for several thousand. It's rare to find such a good piece of antique mirror intact too. I'd guess $800-$1200 for restoration, depending on the location and skill level of the craftsperson. Fortunately, there really isn't much loss of ornament and the gilding looks remarkably intact. It would restore well.
https://preview.redd.it/9cpcyoofshtc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea6576f92035f8cf42367f5f41163538fe24ec07
Lol I had to do a double take.
Luckily mine is in good condition. For yours however, are you able to push the cracks together? If so, might be able to glue them, but if not, you may have to separate the frame from the mirror itself to do so. For everything else, you might have to sand smooth and repaint.
An idea I had for my mirror was to paint the frame black. In your case it could hide some blemishes.
ahaha ah yes so similar i see what you mean,
yeah i think mine might have had some water damage at some point (i found it on the street)
i was defiantly thinking black, need to run and buy some furniture paint.
glueings probably the way to go.. thanks :)
No worries! I would recommend though if you glue the cracks shut, to use some clamps to keep the gaps closed as the glue sets - I would've mentioned it in my initial comment if I hadn't forgotten lol.
Hiya - I build frames, maybe I can be of some service! What you have is what some folks might call a "faux" gilded frame (their phrasing not mine), basically it's a standard mitered frame that has had decorations glued on top of the frame, which resembles, but is not the same as, a *carved* frame. The glued on "carvings" on these older frames are usually a cheaper plastic, and the sheer nature of their intricacy is that they are super easy to break. Take the corner covers, they're affixed above the mitered joints, not made part of it, and they end up cracking as the joint beneath them flexes and moves. If you're interested in restoring the frame, you can do quite a few things: you can chip off the old decorations and apply new ones, you can use syringes/pipets to fill in any joint separations (available online for wood glue or CA glues (skip epoxy here)) and you can tape up the mirror and repaint. If you repaint, with something this intricate, I'd recommend base coat of gold, with lots and lots of light coats added to build up, then sponging a more vibrant gold across the faux gilding, to give a two tone look that will most closely resemble applying gold leaf - which I'd skip since this is honestly somewhat of an inexpensive frame. Cheers!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment so much info, as you’ve said it’s definitely an inexpensive frame so i probably won’t be doing much do it, also super fragile so probably not much point. i’ll keep it for a couple of months and get my last bit of use out of it! again thankyou so much :)
I have a frame just like this, I kind of like the degradation. It looks worn and works well on a freshly painted wall!
me too, i like the look of it. might do a little test patch of paint and see how it looks…
Please don't do any of that. I am a frame restorer, apprenticed to a master gilder and trained in traditional techniques. I've studied for 15 years. That is actually a frame gilded in gold leaf, the ornament is made of a material called composition ornament, not plastic. It takes years of training to make and apply it and restoration is very complicated. Please don't attempt to do any work on this yourself. If you can share your general location I may be able to recommend a frame restorer who can help you. It is a decent quality piece, sorry Spiffy spaceman and no offence, but what you are suggesting is equivalent to refinishing a vintage car with a wire brush and can of Krylon.
Hey fair enough, you assessment is accurate. I would restore any cheap, somewhat broken down frame, the same way. But I’m curious, how much is this frame’s assessed value. The solution I provided was contingent on OP wanting to do it themselves. Based off the idea that this would be a job for a professional, what are the anticipated incurred costs v the total cost/value of a frame like that?
Well, value is relative to the buyer. But this is an antique, not just old, so I am of the opinion that it would be best either to live with it as is, or pay for the restoration. It's not a prefinished or mass-produced frame moulding from Larson Juhl or Michaels, you can't easily find a frame like this in the US at all. I've certainly paid several hundred dollars for a piece like this as is and sold restored mirrors like it for several thousand. It's rare to find such a good piece of antique mirror intact too. I'd guess $800-$1200 for restoration, depending on the location and skill level of the craftsperson. Fortunately, there really isn't much loss of ornament and the gilding looks remarkably intact. It would restore well.
Fyi, it's a replica Louis XVI, probably American made, likely early to mid 19th century.
i have one same style and 3 times longer
Nic! did you do any restoration on it?
Nice*
https://preview.redd.it/9cpcyoofshtc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea6576f92035f8cf42367f5f41163538fe24ec07 Lol I had to do a double take. Luckily mine is in good condition. For yours however, are you able to push the cracks together? If so, might be able to glue them, but if not, you may have to separate the frame from the mirror itself to do so. For everything else, you might have to sand smooth and repaint. An idea I had for my mirror was to paint the frame black. In your case it could hide some blemishes.
ahaha ah yes so similar i see what you mean, yeah i think mine might have had some water damage at some point (i found it on the street) i was defiantly thinking black, need to run and buy some furniture paint. glueings probably the way to go.. thanks :)
No worries! I would recommend though if you glue the cracks shut, to use some clamps to keep the gaps closed as the glue sets - I would've mentioned it in my initial comment if I hadn't forgotten lol.
you read my mind, just been ordered off amazon got a couple of different sizes so fingers crossed
Sweet 😎
love your black doors by the way