Where to buy gallery quality frames in Australia?

JamesMorris · Dec 23, 2010

I have an exhibition coming up, and I'd be interested to know if anyone can recommend a supplier of good quality frames.

I'll be doing the matting myself, so all I need are the frames.

The kind of quality I'm looking for is along the lines of the Nielsen-Bainbridge frames, which are available in Europe and surrounds, but apparently not here.

Any help much appreciated, as I haven't been able to find much online so far.

gandolfi · Dec 23, 2010

hi James.
I have just held a large exhibition, and I needed frames as well.
surprisingly, I found very nice - simple frames in..... IKEA(!!).
Real wood - glass - and not too expensive ( ups - I just checked the prices in Australia, and there they are much more expensive that here... (your price for a 50x70 is 79Aud - here it is about 30...)

Anyway - here's a link:

http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/40171311

ausphoto · Dec 23, 2010

Most museums and galleries use Fini frames, or faux Fini versions... but real Fini aren't cheap

Fini Frames
20 Chatham St, Prahran, VIC 3181
Inner Melbourne
p: (03) 95292288
They

ausphoto · Dec 23, 2010

ok, so now the lowdown... like gandolfi I used the faux fini versions from IKEA for my own show.. they're fine, and much cheaper than Fini, but not as sturdy, so they won't travel that well if you're going to tour your show...

SMBooth · Dec 23, 2010

$80.00 ! My little framing around the corner does a 16x20inch wooden 20x20mm frame in black with glass for $40.00. Im sure you could get same in your area.
http://www.communityguide.com.au/community.cfm?/moreland/profile/artcraft/pictureframing/199149/

ausphoto · Dec 23, 2010

The shape of the moulding is the key to the 'professional' galley look, so narrow on front and deep towards the wall...talk to the gallery which will be showing your work..

JamesMorris · Dec 23, 2010

Thanks. Fini was a name I needed to know (although they don't seem to have any online info ?)

I've also been looking at locally made Profile frames, which seem similar to the Ikea ones (a bit more expensive, but I'd probably pay it for locally made):
http://www.profileproducts.com.au/timber-photo-frames/occasion-frames/10420-black.html

One of the good things about the Nielsen frames is that by default, they seem to come as archival gallery quality: UV glass, Artcare archival boards etc. I've since found a US retailer who may ship them here, but the shipping cost will be a killer, so no go :-\

If I decide to sell framed prints, I want to know that the frames are at the same archival quality as the prints (selenium toned FB).

SMBooth: good idea, just order them to spec -- there are quite a few framers around... will have a chat to some.

Thanks everyone, and if there are any more ideas, please post them.

ausphoto · Dec 23, 2010

Fini does archival /UV glass also...any framer can MAKE you frames(they've got oodles of profiles) and then put in the glass you want.
what YOU need to sort out is that do you need and why:
-are you going to travel the show?
-are you going to reuse the frames over and over again?
-what 'look' are you trying to achieve?
-what's your budget? etc.

irrespective, make sure the frames have D-hooks fitted

I had a show with custom made frames (toured, FINI was 3x more expensive), a show with IKEA frames (not toured) and one show pinned 70x70cm. for ex.

right I have 30 IKEA squares in hand (the old birch 50x50, now sadly discontinued) for an exhibit in July '11

BTW selling the images framed is a TOTALLY different proposition

ausphoto · Dec 23, 2010

JamesMorris said:
Thanks. Fini was a name I needed to know (although they don't seem to have any online info ?)

They used to have one. I, too, can't find it right now...

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Dec 25, 2010

If you're selling your work framed, dont use ikea frames. They dont last through a great deal of handling, from my experience and that of my friends. And the public are slowly cottoning on and recognising them too, so I generally suggest avoiding them. You can save some money but it can just reflect badly on you. It depends on the scale of the show as well, but if you're gonna have a lot of people see your work, pay for quality custom framing. If it's just a small show for a week somewhere, on short notice, you can get away with paying less.

On where to buy I can't really make any australia wide reccomendations, but just find a framer in your area who does what you like and build up a relationship. You can usually negotiate a bulk discount, or maybe some money off if you give them some good publicity. If you're handy you can also just buy the moulding and the required tools and do it yourself, but the initial outlay is hefty.

D-Rings are pretty much a must, make sure you know what hanging system you'll be using.

munz6869 · Jan 22, 2011

I went to visit Fini Frames in Prahran this morning... but there was no sign of them, and the phone number didn't work either!! Does anyone know if they've ceased trading?

Marc!

L.J.SILVER · Jan 23, 2011

If it would help here are 3 good quality art framers in Melbourne:
* Jarmin, 158 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, (9818 7751)
* Chapman & Bailey, 420 Johnson Rd, Abbottsford, (9415 8666)
* Greg Von Menge Framing, 19 Lorne St, Caulfield, (9571 9280)
Just so you know, I have no connection with any of them other than having used them in the past. The quality from all of them were great but don't expect inexpensive prices. Cheers!

munz6869 · Jan 23, 2011

Neato! Jarmin is within walking distance...

Some extra research suggests Fini Frames closed for good in September last year, which is a shame.

Marc!

Poisson Du Jour · Jan 23, 2011

Frames usually (but not always) come with aesethically matched mats; might be OK for small galleries, but ditch the cheap, impure glass and invest in UV-retardant glass (often specified for gallery-exhibited prints e.g. Ilfochromes). IKEA frames have often less than precise mitres and flimsy glass. If the gallery you are exhibiting has particular presentation standards, follow those standards e.g. consistent framing right across the image range. A framer is the best friend you can have when preparing an exhibition, even though the DIY temptation can be overpowering.

Museum-grade conservation framing is never, ever cheap: I average $195 each 460x305mm print, or $130 for a 20x20cm pinhole print. Wouldn't think of doing it myself for risk of stuffing up the matt or framing!

SMBooth · Jan 25, 2011

Interesting that Ellie Young (Goldstreet) did the framing for Tim Rudman and they only have standard float glass, she doesn't see the need to use UV indoors.

Where to buy gallery quality frames in Australia?

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