Framing, Matting & Mounting

Mounting is the outcome of ancient Chinese culture, the traditional decorating art of silk embroidery, and special technology developed from a long history. Mounting is related, complete each other, closely linked, and common developed with embroidery art. It increases the artistic effects, secures and facilitates the preservation and collection. How to mount embroidery art depends on variety of the styles, sizes, forms and actual needs. The method of framing condenses the wisdom of creators and makers from thousands of years. Good mounting and framing can make an embroidery colors more bright, lines more easy and grace, structures more beautiful and features more prominent.

Embroidery mounting have: 1) Soft-mounting is similar to traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting's mounting, directly mount the embroidery art on a special paper. It features easy to carry and easy to transport. It is appropriate for collection and can be rolled up and stored away easily. But, the disadvantages are: shorter stitching and fine workmanship for embroidery art are needed for this mounting method. This mounting is susceptible to humid or dry weather and get shrink or out of shape sometimes. Embroidery and silk thread might loose its gloss because it is needed to get soaked by water first and then mounted to paper. This can make silk and thread dull, thus affect the colors. 2) Hard-mounting is commonly used now. Embroidery on hoop is mounted directly to a special veneer board with adhesive. Frame the mounted embroidery with decorative matt boards after it attaches the board well. This method is good to keep the silk and thread colors glossy, but when framing is redone, embroidery might be deformed. This framing embroidery art are usually for wall hangings.

Elite Silk Arts not only provides top quality 100% silk embroidery, but also provides quality framing. We provide special non-adhesive matting and mounting methods to preserve the silk artwork excellently. The framing is archival and essentially an art piece can be removed from its mounting or frame, and the original art remains undamaged and in its original state. We provide wood frames and Crescent mat boards and foam backing and finish the framing from our Los Angeles studio.

A frame serves many purposes: It protects and enhances the work, offers protection from dirt, moisture, light, insects and corrosive elements, while providing a stable platform for hanging. Glass or clear acrylic is held off the surface of the artwork by the mat. The back of the work should be attached to acid-free board. Most cheap frames use backing board and matting material that contains small amounts of acid. Over time this acid leaches into the artwork, staining it and making it brittle.

In museum quality frames, all material that touches the work is PH neutral (free of acids, at least four-ply thickness archival quality 100% cotton rag museum mat board, over an acid-free foam or corrugated backing board). All frames should be sealed against moisture to avoid damage from mold and humidity. In terms of value, if something is not framed properly, it can do more damage to a work of art than you could imagine. People should care about their art pieces.

We purchase art because it speaks to us personally, and the frame shouldn't get in the way of that experience. But some artwork comes pre-framed, and in some cases -- like silk embroidery art, the frame is actually part of the work itself.