AboutTom Riddolls M.A.C. Expertise As a conservator my focus is on the preservation/care of art objects as opposed to their value. I may assist in the identification of materials used in art making and some of the techniques in traditional art production.
Please do not ask me about non-traditional medias such as computer software used to create "modern art".
My two areas of specialty are European painting and sculpture (1600-1800) and the artifacts and documents of United Empire Loyalist (1770-1850), anything outside these areas may receive vague answers that merely point you in a fruitful direction.
Experience I am a practising conservator and curator
Education/Credentials I have a Master's degree in Art Conservation
Expert: Tom Riddolls M.A.C. Date: 5/27/2008 Subject: Lacquered print? Painting?
Question QUESTION: I am trying to find any information I can on the following item:
It is what at first glance appeared to be some kind of really old framed print. Yet, what makes this extremely different is the fact that it seems to have some kind of raised texture to it and you can see what looks like brush strokes. After looking at it via a magnifying glass it does appear to have extremely small (And I mean smaller than any printed print I've ever seen) sporadic dots, yet even with my 30 something vision I can barely see them with a magnifying glass. But what gets me is the texture and the fact that you can feel it when you run your fingers over the piece. Did early print makers apply textures to prints in order to make them seem like the real thing? And how does one go about dating these kinds of prints? Anyway, due to a couple of small spots of damage, it appears as though this is some kind of work on paper board of some kind. Also, I was able to make out a few initials of an artists name, but even then I could be wrong. It looks like Cis or Ciz or something like that for the last 3 initials. The size of the item without the frame is 28 inches tall by 22 inches wide. It's rather large. With the frame the whole piece measures 34 inches tall by 27 ½ inches wide. It's so large it looks like something you'd find in a really old home above a fireplace or in a museum or something.
What I'd also like information about is the frame. It's some kind of gilded colored old frame that has some damage in the corners, is rather warped when you look at it from a top view, has what looks to be extremely old nails or tacks in the corners, in pairs, and on the back on the very edge the original paper remnants that would have covered the back of the item is so old it is probably the brittlest, brownest paper remnants I've seen.
If anyone can tell me anything about this item, including the frame, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've yet to see another like it. I've attached links of various pictures of the item, including parts of the frame.
ANSWER: Your picture is indeed a print. The paint texture is embossed into the cardboard.
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QUESTION: Do you know anything about frames? Based on the pictures I could supply of the frame, any indication of age due to its construction and appearance?
Answer as a conservator I can only discuss the materials in any degree of expertise, BUT I have seen many of these pictures, they are common and not extremely old. The brittleness of the paper you refer to is found in more recent paper (c.1900) rather than older papers (c.1750) due to the process of making paper. The frame is reminding me of anything from late victorian (1880s) up to the second world war. The use of wire nails is not a good indicator of age, but they are more recent than square nails obviously. Pictures of this sort were produced for the waning ages of the "palour", when families wanted a room that appeared abundant in wealth and items of class (i.e. 17th-century European Paintings)
