How do I hang a heavy carved oak frame safely?

These frames carry significant weight due to the dense timber and mirror glass. Secure them directly into wall studs using heavy-duty picture hooks and braided steel wire rated well above the object's mass. Avoid relying solely on plaster wall plugs without load-bearing backing. Professional mirror plates screwed securely into the vertical frame members offer the most stable support.

Can I place these frames in a bathroom?

Oak and gesso react poorly to high humidity and direct moisture. Steam from a shower causes the wood to swell and the gesso ground beneath gilding or paint to crack and lift. Keep these pieces in dry living areas, hallways, or dining rooms where temperature and humidity remain relatively stable throughout the year.

How do I tell an 19th-century frame from a later copy?

Examine the reverse of the frame for the construction methods, tool marks, and the ageing of the timber. Nineteenth-century examples often feature hand-cut joinery, oxidized fixings, and dry, shrinkage-cracked wood. Later reproductions typically display uniform machine milling, modern backing boards, and newer brass screws that lack the patination of older hardware.