• Welcome to the Framer's Corner Forum, hosted by the Professional Picture Framers Association. (PPFA)
    You will have to register a free account, before you can SEARCH or access the system. If you have already registered, please LOG IN
    If you have already registered, but can't remember your password, CLICK HERE to reset it.
PPFA Connect Newsletter

Things found inside old frames.

Ellen Collins MCPF

Ellen Collins MCPF

PPFA Vice President
 :
Messages
728
Loc
Hagerstown, MD; you've driven by here
Company
Howard's
Thanks, Jini! This is a good suggestion!

We opened up a frame once and found an exquisite watercolor. The artist had attached a label that listed him as a vice-president of the Royal Watercolor Society. I emailed the Society, and they sent a biography of the painter, who apparently is semi-well-known in watercolor circles. The piece was worth about $500 or so, as I recall.

I contacted the customer who was really excited, because the frame that that had come out of was one of a set of four identical frames. Alas, our frame was the only on containing a prize. Who knows? Did someone discard the other three? Did someone use only one of the frames for a while, while keeping the other three?

I always love the "middle of the story" moments that those who work with the public experience. We don't know the beginning of the story, and we'll never know the end, but the middle is still interesting....
 
I will shara a funny but not so funny old frame story....

A piece was brought in by a customer who had taken the work to another local home based framer about 2-3 years earlier, but she was never really happy with the choice of mat colors. So the customer elected to bring the piece to us rather than take it back to the original framer.

I should add that the original framer was an OK framer...just a little disorganized and always struggling with things.

So when we open the dust cover and remove the content, what do we find buried between the artwork and the backing board? There lies the customer's deposit check for the work to be done, made out to the framer and un-depositied. :sorrow: :shocked:

Sadly this framer is now one that is no longer in business...

John
 
we were re-framing some oils for a customer who had spent time in the far east during the 60s and 70s. Cardboard was shoved up against the back of these 2 canvases, so I pulled them out to discover all kinds of documents related to Swiss bank accounts and money transfers. I notified our client (at a state university-the pieces had belonged to an alum and had been given to the school) who told me she had recently found out the alum had wored for the CIA and OSS and had played a role in getting the Dali Lama out of China. The accounts were all closed, but told some interesting tales! I sent them up to the client. Still waiting to find actual cash hidden in a frame!
 
I once found a Marilyn Monroe full size movie poster inside a package. I tried to give it to the customer, who didn't want it. It has that famous picture of her standing over a subway grate with her skirt billowing. I have it framed and on display. It is a great demonstration of what can be done with these over-sized posters. It had some minor damage which I disguised by using painted rag board behind it. It was an inexpensive solution that preserved its state should conservation be desired later. It works as a great discussion piece.

I have found some weird things in some of them, including a folded up cardboard bread box as filler in a package framed by a famous NY gallery. That was a great lesson in how reputation doesn't always equal knowledge and skill.
 
Since day one in 1976 until 2002 I would put a penny minted in the year it was framed in the back of every custom frame we did. When I would get one back in I would leave that penny and add another of the date we replaced glass, changed mat or reframed it. In Sept 2002 when I stopped putting pennies in the back I had place 361,538 pennies in the back of frames... That is why I stopped...LOL
There are a couple Neliesen #97 frames that have $1.00 bills tucked in side the square part of the moulding. Small note on the in side of the backing to take frame apart for a reward.

I have found cleveland newspapers dating as far back as 1901. Old cheap litho graghs, colligraghs, old charcoal portraits one as old as 1881. Tons of bugs & dirt. Writting sizes, names of customer, mat board #'s, flattened Rice box stamped not for sale American red cross.
.
I hope some one opens one of the 361,538 frames and gets a penny that may send their kid to college or pay a months rent for their frame shop.
I have a penny collection I started when I was 7 that the just the top 25 pennies are worth $4801.50 by themselves. My prize penny is a 1909s vdb in good condition.
Sorry back on subject
 
Years ago while working at another shop, a lady brought a framed family photo in to be switched with one in the frame. Upon opening the back there was what appeared to be a beautiful drawing of an angel. Looking at it more closely we discovered that the angel was drawn with beautifully written words. It was a dinner invitation to a young lady from a young gentlemen. Calling the customer to tell her what we had found, it turns out it was from great grandfather to her not yet great grandmother. She was elated and of course we got to frame this very special piece of family history for her. What treasure that can be found. Keep looking.
 
Get Framing Advice
Back
Top