Edwardian Table Photo Frame
These edwardian table photo frame pieces bring period elegance to a desk or mantelpiece through quality sterling silver and glass.
Edwardian Table Photo Frame
An edwardian table photo frame provides a desktop or cabinet display for photographs, executed in sterling silver alongside glass and velvet. These pieces range from compact circular items to larger rectangular formats designed for prominent placement.
Makers of the period applied distinct aesthetic movements to these domestic objects, incorporating Art Nouveau whiplash lines alongside Edwardian rococo revival scrolls. Collectors encounter hearts, ovals, and rectangular shapes fitted with wooden or blue velvet backs.
The materials reflect domestic luxury of the era, combining heavy sterling silver mounts with bevelled glass to protect portrait photographs. Many examples survive with their original folding struts and textile backing intact.
How They Were Made
Silversmiths constructed these frames using sterling silver sheet, shaped by hand or pressed with dies to create embossed floral borders and geometric patterns. Planished surfaces show intentional hammer marks left by the artisan during construction.
Backings were assembled from timber or sturdy cardboards covered in velvet or leather, secured with turn-buttons and fitted with hinged wooden struts. Glass panes were cut to fit precisely behind the silver bezel and held firmly against the photograph.
Edwardian Table Photo Frame Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for edwardian table photo frame among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Tennis enthusiasts can display their matches within dedicated silver frames shaped around sports themes and racquets.
What Varies in Quality
The weight and thickness of the sterling silver sheet dictate the structural integrity of the frame, where heavier gauges resist denting and warping over time. Finer examples retain crisp definition in embossed or chased decoration rather than soft, worn patterns.
The sophistication of the design separates standard production from exceptional pieces, particularly when incorporating novelty shapes like miniature furniture or specialised sports themes. Original mechanisms, intact glass, and well-preserved velvet backs contribute to desirability.
William Comyns·Mappin Bros·Henry Matthews
The Edwardian Table Photo Frame Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, typically copper, used for durability in tableware and frames. This standard is verified by hallmark stamps.
- Planished
- A metalworking finish achieved by hammering the surface with a polished tool to create small, flat facets that catch the light. This technique provides texture to Art Nouveau examples.
- Strut
- The hinged support attached to the back of a frame that allows it to stand upright on a table. These are commonly covered in velvet or leather.
- Bevelled glass
- Glass with an angled edge cut and polished to a specific thickness around the perimeter. It adds a decorative border to the view of the photograph.
- Embossed
- A technique where a design is raised above the surrounding metal surface using punches and hammers from behind. This creates high-relief floral and scrollwork borders.
Edwardian Table Photo Frame: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean a silver frame?
Use a soft microfiber cloth specifically formulated for sterling silver to gently polish raised areas and remove tarnish without disturbing glass or velvet components.
Avoid liquid dips or harsh chemical cleaning agents, as these substances can seep behind the bezel or damage the backing materials.
Are these frames meant for wall hanging?
These pieces are engineered strictly for tabletop display, utilising folding wooden struts attached to the reverse side for stability.
Attempting to mount them on a wall requires specialised hardware not provided in the original construction of the piece.
How do I replace the photograph?
Access the interior by turning the small metal tabs or sliding the retaining pins that hold the backing board in place against the frame.
Lift out the velvet backing and glass carefully, insert the new photograph, and secure the components back into the silver housing.
What styles appear in this group?
The selection includes Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian, and Georgian Revival aesthetics expressed through decorative motifs on the silver.
Some pieces feature asymmetrical floral lines while others display geometric borders or novelty figural forms.