1930-1940's Frames?

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Steven6095

Steven6095

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 14, 2004
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Nicholasville, KY
Hello. I am working on a period piece and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what style (pictures are good too) of frames were in fashion or common in the 1930's and 1940's?
Piece is German, but I am not going for 100% authenticity, just something that would be close enough.
My grandmother says a lot of things were painted with thick black laquer.

Thanks
Steven
 
German? Bauhaus! Maybe thin black minimalist frames. Baer is an expert on this.

I think what today reads as 30's and 40's is streamline, shiny combinations of metal and glass or plastic, etc. Bet some of the Framerica metallics could easily "read" as that period with the right picture.

Yes lacquer would be a good choice for any 30's set designer. In terms of the collective consciousness your best reference is probably Fred Astaire movies, or any movie with Edward Everett Horton in it. Watch the walls of those Deluxe hotels, if you can take your eyes off Ginger. The world was never like that, but should have been. It's what people think they remember of the period.

What was really on the walls of the older houses I can remember from the 50's was just about anything. Lots gold Plein Air frames in Aunt E's house, I inherited one of those, although what I really wanted was one of the night lights with the curvy glass babes. Mrs. F's house had tubular moderne furniture but humongous gold compo picture frames each one with it's own attached tubular light bulb in a sort of baroque fixture. Lots of deco & nouveau stuff left over from the early 20th century, highly ornate and not at all streamline. But your reference should really be the E.E. Horton movies, if a frame is in one of those never-was time capsules, who can argue?
 
Steven,
I collect works on paper from the 30's and 40's, therefore I collect the frames of that period as well. Mine are mostly gold and a dull silver with minimal ornamentation, though many are closed corner. Some natural wood, but little or no black. There's a somewhat poor man's deco look about them, as well. Think Depression, and WWII.
Whatcha got to frame?

edie the borntoolate goddess
 
Its actually for me.
I have an original pencil drawing, two small photos, a signature and a medal from a WW2 German pilot that I am framing. Yes - I am a bit of a history buff.

Not really needing an authentic frame, but I thought it would be cool to have something in the same ballpark. Flipping through my Roma catalog tonight and saw several things that look like they may be representative of a frame from that era, but I know nothing of age of frames, etc.

Looking at old movies is a great idea! Sound of Music !!!
It was on tonight! Drat!...
 
Gee bill, I don't think I have been so flattered by being insulted so well before.

If it's Bauhaus you want..... N93 - Nielsen Profile 93 is an Arthaus design inspired by the Bauhaus movement with a flat raised top. N15 in the soft german silver is also a good design.... excuse me a moment [:vomit:].

Sorry about that.

For a Luftwaffen (sp?) pilot and memorabilia....
frame.JPG
this may be just a little over the top.

Some of the Framerica steel stuff is just tacky enough to semi pass as Bauhaus......

Understanding the times and what was going on from about 1936 on is important to understanding what Germany was making, and using.

1) they were making war machines and all things military. If you could find a sterling silver Wermacht or any other commemorative photo frames..... you would do better to just put them up on Ebay . . .
2) For the fanciful painting of high ranking Nazis in Teutonic Knightly drag..... they would just go shopping at the next door country's museums... kick the paintings out of the desired frame and frame their painting up.

For personal "General Population"... grunts and civilians... much that was left was 1920s and early 1930s Art Deco styles of frames. Most were silver and toned silver.... very little true gold was used for decorative arts..... unless you wore some serious brass on your collars.

stick with darker patina plainer silver Art Deco designs and they will look right.

bill, you owe me an apologetic shot of Jagermeister at vegas.... :party:
 
Oops, forget that degenerate Bauhaus stuff and those sissified American movies. National Socialist Realism is called for here. Don't know what kinda frames those guys liked actually. Something heavy and dark would work. For properly stereotyped stylistic references see "The Great Dictator" with Charlie Chaplin, happens to be a great movie BTW.

Oh, there's Baer's post. Hey, I LIKE that frame! I 'm getting ready to buy a ton of Wall #319, very similar but less textured, gold surrounding black, Florentine-esque. Is something wrong with me?

Eine Jagermeister it is, Herr Capitan! :beer:
 
I like that frame too - not for this project, but the frame is nice.

Thanks for the info!
Only the grumble - help and a small history lesson ; )

"stick with darker patina plainer silver Art Deco designs and they will look right."
Sounds good.
 
Not to be contrary Pat, but LJ Deco line was designed by a sissy socialist sipping poofy drinks up a St Louis side street.

But unfortunately, it's one of the closest ones..... but for the subtleties, I would go with this from Williamson Co

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The Teutonic reeding is a very hard traditional look and the "Temple and Sun" is a strong allusion to the rise of the Third Reich. This is a 1 1/2" with about a 3/4" under the lip #38-H120121.

For a little larger (2-1/2") and an allusion to the Laural turbans that were so favored when the Nazis honored heroes or athletes[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]. #[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]63-3104-8000[/FONT]
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Very interesting Baer.

Do you offer these sort of moulding interpretations to your customers? Do there exist customers who care about such interpretations say more than "does it go with the sofa" or "I just adore pink?"

I like those deep rabbets at Williamson, also having the same design in proportioned sizes.
 
But you see Pat, I didn't say or see you as being right.... you just provided an "alternate" avenue of solution.

I, on the other hand offered my opinion of that "alternate". :D

bill t., yes I do, and yes there are. Present to the same customer the same sample..... with two very different patters (verbal sales)...

A) "This big goopy gold frame would look great on your picture. It gives it that "Old World, old timey flavor and it will really dress up your burgundy couch".

B) "I think that scene of Tuscany landscape would easily support the balance of this early Baroque design. It will lend the a certain flavor to the motif of the piece while maintaining the barrier that keeps out the modern world and presents the image as its own special universe."

which one do you think will get the sale, all things being equal?

Which one sounds like the salesperson should add the tag-line of "and would you like fries with that"?

Which sounds like it came out of mouth of a professional framer?

A little subliminal education can allow customers to make those tough decisions about spending that extra $200 or just going to the mall and blowing it all on shoes.
 
30s frames

I carry actual period frames and mouldings (cutting down larger frames to custom sizes). Of course sometimes only a reproduction will work, but there's nothing like the real thing, even if it's only dime store moulding!
 
Dime Store Mouldings

Dime store mouldings from the 1930s are now pricey "authentic period mouldings"! And where can you find a dime store in 2008?!
 
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