Circular Frame for a Damaged Plate
The piece was an extremely fragile and somewhat broken decorative plate. It was especially important to our client because his mother had it hanging in her home and now it had come to him. We fashioned a circular frame to support this piece while protecting its delicate condition. The frame needed to be strong, deep, and not too overwhelming to showcase this item. The construction, after some consideration of various possibilities, was to be fashioned out of multiplied layers of MDF (Medium-density-fiberboard,) cut to shape, laminated, trimmed, and sanded to size. The plate measured 21″ in diameter, with a 1 3/4″ height. The frame was constructed to accommodate the plate along with a circular piece of acrylic to protect the face and a ridged backer to protect the back. The frame was milled in three parts. The bottom two parts finished slightly larger than the 21″ diameter. The face part had an inside diameter of 20 1/2″ to allow for a 1/4″ lip to retain the acrylic and the plate. The face layer was router to form the lip and matched up with the other two layers. The bottom layer was router to accommodate the ridged backer and secure the whole assembly. Each layer was glued, in turn, to the next layer. They were then clamped and allowed 12 hours or so to fully cure.
Once the assembly was glued up, the final shaping and sanding took place. Both the inside and outside were evened and smoothed. The frame was sealed, and multiple layers of milk paint were applied. Several layers of dark chocolate brown applied to the outer faces and a white linen tone was applied to the interior as well as the face of the frame. The face then was rubbed to allow a bit of the dark brown to show through the edges and give the frame a venerated look. The frame was then sealed using a fine wax to create a warm luster to the finish. The final assembly utilized foam pieces to cushion and secure the plate, padding it across the form without applying too much pressure. The piece was completed with a dust cover and hanging hardware to allow this piece to be securely displayed for the next generation. One of the most satisfying aspects of our work is the realization that our efforts can be enjoyed for lifetimes. It is an honor and responsibility that we remain conscious throughout the process. Feel free to leave a comment on this page as well as like and follow us on out social medias. We look forward to your feedback and questions!
