Frame
Sir George James Frampton (London 1860 - London 1928)
Category
Frames
Date
1890
Materials
giltwood
Order this imageCollection
Standen House and Garden, West Sussex
NT 1216916
Summary
Picture frame, large giltwood frame, for plaster sculpture relief, Mary and Agnes by Sir George James Frampton (London 1860 - London 1928). With green and gold decoration. Label on reverse identifies designer and maker of the frame as Lewis Karslake (1844-1912), architect and father of the sitters.
Full description
The frame has a pine carcass and was originally glazed. A carved pair of capitals and carved scrolling ornament form an apron. There are three sheet metal cross ornaments at either side, and centre, of the top frieze, attached with nails. Hard pastiglia material is modelled to form candelabrum ornament on pilasters and scrolling frieze (with an animal head crest at centre). The top and bottom friezes were both entirely gilded before being painted with a translucent green glaze. The glazing of the top frieze goes around the pastiglia ornament and the bottom frieze is glazed overall prior to sgraffito and engraved decoration of lines and flowers. On back of top board in blue pencil: ‘Royal Academy 1890 (possibly changed to 1891) – Mary & Agnes Daughters of Lewis Karslake, Esqre – By George Fra[mpton]’. This inscription is partly covered by brown ink on paper label adhered with paste (some losses): ‘Agnes & Mary daughters of [Lew]is Karslake Esq: Artist: George Frampton 32 Queens Rd. St John’s Wood. N.W.’. On back of top board, annotation with black ink: ‘Sotheby’s March 14th 1973’ and on black print on paper adhered with paste: ‘180 A LARGE PLASTER RELIEF […] within high giltwood ‘renaissance’ frame with painted friezes […] Exhibition: Royal Academy, 1890, No. 2068 […] Lewis Karslake, the architect who designed and made the frame’. On top face on black printed gummed paper label: ‘CASE & SONs DEPOSITORIES – Frame – No. SALISBURY.’
Provenance
The framed relief of Agnes and Mary was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1890, No. 2068, and was sold at Sotheby's on 14 March 973, lot 180. The relief was brought to Standen by Arthur Grogan and was purchased from him by the National Trust in 1987 with assistance from the V&A Purchase Fund.
Makers and roles
Sir George James Frampton (London 1860 - London 1928), maker