How do you clean them?

Use a soft silver cloth. Liquid dips strip the patination and seep into the wooden backings, causing the velvet to rot or the wood to warp. Brush gently with a soft bristle brush if dust gathers in the chased decoration. Avoid rubbing the hallmarks directly.

I found an old frame that looks silver but has no marks on the front at all, could the marks be somewhere else or does this mean it is plated?

English hallmarking laws required marks on the visible surface of standard picture frames. They normally sit near the bottom edge or along a side rim. Some makers hid them on the inner edge holding the glass. Continental or American pieces often have their purity stamps stamped on the back edge or on the strut hardware. Unmarked pieces are often silver plate over copper or brass.

Can velvet backs be replaced?

Yes, professionals replace worn backings often. Specialists cut new boards and recover them in traditional cotton velvet. Keep the original metal hardware. Restorers will attach the old fittings to the new board.

The silver border on my one has separated slightly from the velvet backboard, is there a simple way to tighten it back up without causing damage?

Silver frames usually attach to their backings with small metal pins. These push through holes in the silver rim directly into the wooden core. Look for missing pins. You can source brass pins of a similar gauge to secure the loose section. Tap them gently with a small hammer. Place a cloth over the silver to prevent scratching.

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Victorian Silver Frames

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Solid silver borders mounted onto wooden or velvet-covered backs, originally made to protect and display photographs or portrait miniatures on tabletops.