Metal Ware

7 Questions to Help You Find the Right Metal Photo Frame

With the huge selection and popularity of metal picture frames sometimes it can be difficult picking the one that is right for you. To help you narrow down your choices here are seven questions you should ask before you start searching for your frame and some tips to help make it easier.

#1- Frame Budget: What is my budget?
If you’re not sure how much you have to spend to get the type of metal frame you want here are some rough guidelines for different types of metal frames, based on a 4×6 size, that can help:

* Under $10 – basic aluminum frames, simple solid brass frames
* $10 and up – basic silver plated frames, decorative metal frames, steel frames.
* $30 and up – decorative silver plated frames
* $50 and up – decorative hand made solid pewter frames
* $100 and up – decorative solid sterling silver frames

#2- Keepsake frames: Do I want it to be a treasured keepsake?
If you’re looking for a quality metal frame that you want as a keepsake, then there are three types of frames to consider: silver plated frames, solid pewter frames and sterling silver frames. These three types of frames are made to last plus they have a look of quality that sets them apart from other metal picture frames.

#3- Frame Style: What picture frame style do I want?
No matter what your style preference, there is a metal frame style to match. Here are some examples of metal picture frame styles to consider. Just keep in mind that there is a huge variety of frame styles within each grouping of metal frames.

* Elegant:  Silver plated frames, sterling silver frames, metal decorative frames, and metal jeweled frames
* Casual:  Decorative metal frames or solid pewter frames.
* Professional:  Aluminum frames, silver plated frames or sterling silver frames
* Modern or Traditional style:  Almost any type of metal frame, including aluminum frames, steel frames, pewter frames, silver plate frames, sterling silver frames, fit into this style category.

#4- Color: What color of frame do I want?
Metal picture frames usually come in a variety of gold or silver colors depending upon the type of material it’s made from. One thing to know about any “silver” frame is what it’s made out of because it could be made out of an aluminum or metal alloy instead of being made out of a silver plate or sterling. So the wording “silver frame” doesn’t mean the material it’s made from but instead describes the color. This is the case for pewter picture frames as well. Unless it’s specifically identified as “solid pewter,” it’s most likely describing the color of the frame instead of the material.

Metal frames are also available in a wide variety of colors. You can get aluminum frames in colors like silver, gold, black, blue and copper or you can find metal frames with bright enamel finishes or decorated with beads or crystals.

#5- Finish: What type of metal finish do I prefer?
The most common metal finishes are shiny, matte/brushed and antiqued. Unless the finish is specifically called brushed, antique or matte, it will normally be a shiny metal finish.

#6- Engraved Frame: Do I want to engrave my frame?
If you want to engrave a frame, be sure to choose a frame that is identified as an engraved frame, or an engravable frame. This means that the frame is a solid material with the same color metal throughout the depth of the frame. It also means there is a smooth, flat surface for the engraving. Engraved frames are available as silver plated, solid pewter or sterling silver frames.

#7- Size: Do you need a specific frame size?
If you are framing a standard sized photo, you should be able to use a readymade frame. Readymade frames are the most convenient way to frame because there are many standard sizes from which to choose.

For a piece of artwork or non-standard picture size, you will probably need a custom metal frame. How much you want to spend is also a factor that comes into play. You can either buy a custom frame and have it assembled for you or, to save money, you can buy the size you need and assemble it yourself. Many metal frames are simple to put together by yourself, so this is a good option if you are handy at putting things together and you want to save some money.

Now that you have answered these 7 simple questions you should be able to easily and quickly choose the frame that fits your needs.

About the Author

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for YourPictureFrames.com and loves shopping for photo frames. Your Picture Frames offers a large selection of frames in a wide variety of colors, sizes and shapes like our metal panoramic frames and square frames. Shop online or call us at 1-800-780-0699.

antique picture: thomas jefferson in his freemason outfit.?

hello – im reaching out for information on an old historical photograph we bought at an antique sale. Thomas jefferson print in a freemasons outfit. one hand holds a gavel and the other hand is resting on some books. appears to be framed in pewter with oval bubble glass. i have photographs of the picture if you could be interested in helping discover details of the print. ive checked websites and google images and have fallen short of any clues.
it is not a photograph – it IS a print. sorry for the confustion. also – i cant seem to figure out how to reply to answers. im looking for any clues to find a person who could validate the origin of the print and give me more details surrounding it.
the first link was the correct picture thank you very much we have a print of ben franklin.

The print is probably not Jefferson, since he was not a Mason. The pose you describe however sounds like the classic Geo. Washington print which hangs in nearly every Masonic Lodge in the United States.

The original painting which the print is based off comes from the mid 1800′s. Reprints became “standard equipment” in U.S. Masonic Lodges in the 1880′s and continue to be to this day, and was also popular for many years among Masons and non-Masons alike as a piece of home decor- so there are many thousands of copies. The frame and glass you describe date this particular print as late 1800′s to early 1900′s. By the 1920′s oval bubble frames were largely out of fashion. The frame and glass are probably worth more than the print itself, but so long as the print is in decent condition and depending on the material it is printed on… you could be looking at a value of about $200.00, maybe more to a Masonic collector if there is any information on if it came from a specific Lodge. (Antique frames and glass went for big money a few years ago, not so much now.)

Edit: if the print is what you are now using as your avitar image, it is Franklin, not Jefferson. Rarer than the Washington print, the Franklin print is still not that uncommon, so the value remains mostly in the frame and glass… 250 on a good day.