Custom Frames

Shops like Metropolitan Frame redeem the words "Custom Frame"; the term"Custom Picture Framing" has become a commercially phrase that describes the process of selecting pre manufactured goods to be purchased, cut and assembled to the design and measurements of a unique object. That process describes the vast majority of the "Custom Picture Frame" market including many projects at Metropolitan Frame. However fine framers have coined terms like "Closed Corner" and "Finished Corner" to represent truly custom, hand made-to-order picture frames being designed, sold and fabricated in shops like Metropolitan. These terms refer to a finished product with no miter seams as a result of the finish being applied after the frame is assembled in it's raw form. Custom mouldings might be custom profiles created just for an artist or the enhancing of unique raw mouldings with carved patterns that refer to the art they will host. Finishes are as simple as oils and stains but are more often complicated and closely kept recipes of rabbet skin glue, clay bole, milk paint, lacquer and shellac over and under Dutch metal and precious gold leaf.