I had a kid call me late in the day yesterday. One of his teachers had given him my name.
He had a "rare and valuable printing" that was buckling because it was smooshed into a poster frame (the kind with Masonite and a Styrene sheet.) His teacher told him I could probably save it.
I suggested he bring it in for examination. He called three times on the way, since it was after closing time and he wanted to make sure I would still be there. He was very anxious.
It turned out to be a Lord of the Rings poster on the lightest possible coated poster stock. Not only did it have those tight little ripples that come from nowhere-to-go-in-the-poster-frame, but somebody (the original owner) had clumsily trimmed it to fit in the "frame" to begin with.
Some friends had already offered excellent advice on the matter. One, who I guess thought it was a shirt, had suggested he steam it to remove the wrinkles. Another told him to take it out of the frame (good) and roll it up for storage (not so good, since he wants to look at it 30 times each day.)
After much discussion, we are going to dry mount it to remove the little ripples and shrink wrap it to keep the cat hair off of it. He went home with a quote for a metal frame and UV glass so he can present his folks with a birthday request.
I imagine this was this young man's first experience in a frame shop and I hope it was a good one for him. He's already learned a lesson that many adults NEVER learn: That something isn't rare and valuable just because someone tells you it IS, or some day WILL BE. And if it DOES happen to be rare and valuable, trimming it down and smooshing it into a poster frame isn't going to enhance the value. So buy art you enjoy and take good care of it.
He left with a smile on his face, thanking me profusely for staying open late. It turned out to be the highlight of a pretty-good day.
Thanks for letting me share a story that served no useful purpose whatsoever.
BTW, I never ONCE mentioned the terms "preservation" or "acid-free."
He had a "rare and valuable printing" that was buckling because it was smooshed into a poster frame (the kind with Masonite and a Styrene sheet.) His teacher told him I could probably save it.
I suggested he bring it in for examination. He called three times on the way, since it was after closing time and he wanted to make sure I would still be there. He was very anxious.
It turned out to be a Lord of the Rings poster on the lightest possible coated poster stock. Not only did it have those tight little ripples that come from nowhere-to-go-in-the-poster-frame, but somebody (the original owner) had clumsily trimmed it to fit in the "frame" to begin with.
Some friends had already offered excellent advice on the matter. One, who I guess thought it was a shirt, had suggested he steam it to remove the wrinkles. Another told him to take it out of the frame (good) and roll it up for storage (not so good, since he wants to look at it 30 times each day.)
After much discussion, we are going to dry mount it to remove the little ripples and shrink wrap it to keep the cat hair off of it. He went home with a quote for a metal frame and UV glass so he can present his folks with a birthday request.
I imagine this was this young man's first experience in a frame shop and I hope it was a good one for him. He's already learned a lesson that many adults NEVER learn: That something isn't rare and valuable just because someone tells you it IS, or some day WILL BE. And if it DOES happen to be rare and valuable, trimming it down and smooshing it into a poster frame isn't going to enhance the value. So buy art you enjoy and take good care of it.
He left with a smile on his face, thanking me profusely for staying open late. It turned out to be the highlight of a pretty-good day.
Thanks for letting me share a story that served no useful purpose whatsoever.
BTW, I never ONCE mentioned the terms "preservation" or "acid-free."