Inspired by History: Crafting Frames from Cardboard & Paper Mâché

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and reimagine the Renaissance! How historical frames at The Met inspired me to create my own.

A friend loves to tease me about how often I say, "Follow your nose!" It's one of my favorite phrases (and sentiments), perfectly describing my process for making these frames. It all started because I once again found myself enchanted and inspired at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Cardboard and Paper Mâché Frames

While wandering through the galleries, I started thinking about how we often focus entirely on the artwork, the painting or drawing itself, while overlooking another incredible piece of craftsmanship: the frame. As you know, modern frames are often mass-produced, but in galleries featuring pre-20th-century works, we can see exquisite, hand-crafted frames. These are carved, painted, cast, gilded, and uniquely designed, often by unnamed and underappreciated artisans whose skill and sensibility are just as impressive as the art they surround.

This time at The Met, I found myself in Gallery 537, where the dramatic damask-covered walls provide a stunning backdrop for the artwork. …