Double Picture Frame
A double picture frame holds two images side by side, offering a practical way to display paired portraits or companion photographs.
Double Picture Frame
A double picture frame unites two apertures within a single structure, allowing two related images to be displayed together. The pieces gathered under this phrase span the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, encompassing portable travel items and desk accessories.
Most examples found in these records take the form of hinged folding photograph frames designed for a table or bureau. Others appear as rigid metal or carved wooden mounts intended to hold paired prints or two-sided slips.
Materials range from precious sterling silver and ormolu to carved wood, brass and leather-clad frames. These pieces serve primarily to house family photographs, Vanity Fair prints, or miniature watercolours in domestic interiors.
Quality factors in construction
The standard of a double picture frame rests upon the weight of its metal, the crispness of its cast or carved ornament, and the integrity of its hinges. Finer silver and ormolu examples exhibit sharp chasing and substantial gauge metal that resists bending.
Lesser pieces rely on stamped sheet metal or simple pinned joints which lack durability. The quality of the backing materials, such as heavy turned wood or plush velvet fitted with secure turn-buttons, distinguishes superior workshop production from simpler domestic items.
One travel frame wears an outer coat of crocodile skin, proving Victorians took their loved ones' faces wherever they roamed.
The Double Picture Frame Glossary
- Ormolu
- Gilt bronze mounted or cast as decorative hardware, popular in French nineteenth-century furnishing. It provides a bright golden surface without tarnishing like base brass.
- Tramp art
- A form of folk art created by layering and notching small pieces of scrap wood, often cigar boxes. Such frames display geometric chip-carving patterns.
- Chromolithograph
- A colour lithographic print produced using multiple stones, each applying a different ink colour. This technique yielded the rich tones seen in period journal plates.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied to precious metals indicating the standard of purity, the assay office, and the date letter. British silver pieces carry these marks for dating purposes.
Double Picture Frame: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date a silver double frame?
Examine the hallmarks stamped on the metal rim or backing mount, which indicate the assay office and exact year of manufacture.
Style indicators such as Edwardian proportions or Victorian ornamentation also help confirm the period alongside maker marks.
Were these frames meant for travel?
Many examples feature folding leather or crocodile cases designed specifically for packing photographs during journeys.
Others are heavier standing easel frames intended strictly for stationary desk or mantelpiece display.
What fits inside these apertures?
Original contents often include cabinet photographs, carte de visite portraits, or double-page prints from publications like Vanity Fair.
Modern users frequently place family photographs or small artworks behind the original glass panes.
How are hinged double frames joined?
The two halves typically connect via small barrel hinges that allow the frame to angle or fold completely flat.
Solid metal mounts use integrated pins while wooden versions rely on fabric or brass linkages.