At 1stDibs, there are several options of antique baroque picture frames available for sale. The range of distinct antique baroque picture frames — often made from
wood,
metal and
giltwood — can elevate any home. Antique baroque picture frames have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. There are many kinds of antique baroque picture frames to choose from, but at 1stDibs,
Baroque,
Neoclassical and
Rococo antique baroque picture frames are of considerable interest. Antique baroque picture frames have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by
Hermann Dudley Murphy and
Spanish School are consistently popular.
The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Picture frames have the distinct role of presenting artwork in your home. A good frame can elevate the appearance of a fine oil painting or provocative fine-art photograph. From ornate handcrafted designs to streamlined wooden styles, some antique, new and vintage picture frames have become stand-alone pieces of art on their own.
Frames were originally a part of paintings themselves before they were separate structures carved from walnut and other woods for use with items like portrait paintings and mirrors. The design of frames evolved in Renaissance-era Italy, where an artist might create his own gilded or painted frame. Today, there are all kinds of picture frames made from a variety of materials, including silver, bronze and acrylic.
Displaying art in the home is an art in and of itself, and trends and new art movements have dictated how picture frames have been integrated into home interiors over the years. When Abstract Expressionist art emerged during the 1930s, for example, collectors utilized minimalist frames to hang abstract works or dispensed with frames entirely. Today, mixing mediums and frame designs make for endless combinations, but knowing how to arrange wall art can help even if you’re feeling adventurous.
Whether it’s a dark wood frame for your landscape paintings, a sleek chrome mid-century modern frame to show off your black-and-white photography or a bold Art Deco frame that might completely outshine its subject, find an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage picture frames on 1stDibs.