Some memories are worth preserving for a lifetime. Preserving a moment from life can behold different meanings to different users. Such pieces represent not only emotional values but also define the importance of safe-keeping something with utmost care. They can either hold a sentimental value you wish to display, protect, and share with your future generations without losing their worth. These artworks call for lifelong protection, and Museum Quality Framing can be the best option to ensure the ultimate safeguard for a picture or any item of sentiment value. Museum Quality Framing conveys the concept of being preserved for the future without compromising its value. This technique of framing helps to preserve and protect artwork for future generations.

What is Museum Quality Framing?

Museum Quality Framing is all about curating the artwork with an enhanced level of protection or preservation in the framing process. Museum Quality Framing aims to enhance the artwork visually and provide the highest level of protection from mechanical damage, airborne pollution, and acids from framing materials. Museum-level framing is the Guild’s highest level, so this framing solution will preserve and protect artwork for future generations. Our techniques, materials, and procedures applied in Museum Framing are all of the highest specifications and may be used at any of the Guild’s other levels. 

 Some commonly used components in Museum Quality Framing include UV-filtered glass and rag mats. This type of framing uses materials that ensure the safety of the product being preserved. The techniques, materials, and procedures used in this process are of the highest specifications. Museum Quality framing is a complex but fully reversible process done by expert framers or professional conservators.

How a valuable piece is framed and displayed to the audience drastically affects the life and longevity of the artwork. In addition to the aesthetic aspects of framing the piece, it is crucial to focus on mounting and fitting techniques, so they do not directly create a difference in the artwork but instead work towards preserving the piece for eternity. Museum Quality Framing not just protects the artwork but enhances the features without losing the authentic touch.

Museum framing uses the finest and premium quality raw materials and techniques available in the market today to protect your artwork and memorabilia from aging effects and irreversible damage. Custom framers work in a climate-controlled environment to ensure the safety of your items throughout the process of museum-quality framing. Museum-quality framing thus provides the protection required to avoid irreversible alterations in the color and details of the piece. Displaying your artwork with custom wood framing, matting, glazing, and backing shields protects your investments and allows you to share it with the world. Museum framing is the proven way to protect artwork from environmental influences and preserve it for years of viewing.

How Museum Quality Framing is done at Qube Art Gallery:

Frame:

We, at QubeArt Gallery, are set with an entire team to make your memories beautiful with premium quality framings with life-long protection. Our expert framing team makes sure that the fabrics are trimmed and shaped if necessary. Selection of the right frame may involve a decision between re-using an existing frame and selecting a new one. Whether old or new frame, we strictly follow the standard guidelines mentioned below

• We make sure that the rebate is deep enough to hold the glazing, window mount or fillets, object/artwork, under-mount, and backboard. 
• The molding used is strong and deep enough to support the whole package. 
• We make necessary modifications to the old frame to meet these criteria. 
• The mitres are accurately cut, glued, and pinned tightly.
•  The corners are touched up such that no unfinished molding is visible. In addition, the molding is made free from blemishes, and care is taken to ensure that all pieces match. 
• If the artwork is likely to touch the molding or slips then we seal it with aluminum foil sealing tape.
• When an old frame is to be reused, we carefully clean and repair it, preserving all inscriptions and framing labels. The frame, mount, and glass may be of historical significance. Old decorative mounts such as Victorian gilt mounts are sometimes re-used with an internal lining.

The mounting package:

We use a conservation mount that comprises a window mount and under mount (sometimes referred to as a back mount). The purpose is to provide adequate physical and environmental protection to the artwork/ object. The boards are hinged along one, normally the longest, edge using either cotton gummed white paper tape or linen tape.

Window mount:

The window mount is crucial because the artwork is in direct contact with the window mount. At this level of framing only the Cotton Museum mount board is applicable.

Window mount for Framing valued artwork:

• We only use cotton museum board with a minimum thickness of 1100 microns and conforming to Guild standards for framing valued original artwork.
• Double window mounts are joined using starch paste or EVA adhesive, not double-sided ATG-type tape. The under-mount used is of the same or equivalent quality as the window mounts with a minimum thickness of 1100 microns. 

Mounting photographs: 

• Photographs are a special case because some types may be affected by alkalinity, so we avoid contact with alkaline buffered boards. We use unbuffered boards for these special cases. This applies only to those boards that are in direct contact with the photograph. 

General mounting:

• A window mount or slip is normally used to visually enhance the artwork and distance it from the glazing. Where slip molding is used this is accurately cut to avoid contact with the artwork.
• A spacer is placed between the artwork and glazing in close framing made from Cotton Museum quality mount board.
• The corners of the aperture are cleanly cut, with no overcuts. It is made sure that the mountboard is free from blemishes and that there is a clearance of 1-3mm inside the rebate, depending on the size of the mount. 
• Multiple mounts or deep spacers must be used to frame works of art with migrant or delicate mount pigments, such as pastel drawings, or artwork with a cockled surface. It is not acceptable for a framer to use any form of fixative on artwork with either migrant or delicate pigments. 

Attaching Artwork:

Artwork is hinged to the under-mount using T-hinges along the top edge, or a similarly reversible process is used. Hinges allow the artwork to hang safely and be weaker than, or of a similar weight to the artwork. Hinges made from naturally lignin-free, pH-neutral paper, the adhesive from starch paste, MC (methylcellulose), or SCMC (sodium carboxymethylcellulose)are used. Hinges made from museum-quality gummed tape are acceptable. Hinges are attached to the back of the artwork with the minimum overlap necessary to provide adequate support. 

Glazing:

The artworks are mostly glazed with UV Filters with cotton rag backing. The glazing process is also carried out for Museum quality framing to ensure better clarity in viewing and, at the same time, better protection of the artwork. We ensure that the glazing used is free from blemishes and cut with appropriate thickness and width.

Frame security:

The glazing, window mount, artwork, and under-mount are sealed together with gummed conservation paper tape with a water-soluble adhesive. We strictly execute the security procedures mentioned in the international guidelines. 

Finishing touch:

We give the finishing touch by making the interior and exterior of the frame free of dirt and dust. The glass is cleaned and polished without any smears. 

At QUBE Art Gallery, we value every inch of emotion you share with your artwork or memories. We consider it an opportunity to bring a smile to your face by giving your favorites the protection of a lifetime. Our framers hold a number of International Advanced Accreditations in Conservation, which ensures the safety of your frames.