Framing History: A Dutch-Style Treasure from a Historic Building

Every so often, a project comes through our workshop that feels truly special — a piece that carries not just artistic value, but a tangible sense of history. Recently, a customer brought in a very large oil painting on canvas, salvaged during the restoration of a historic building.

The canvas itself was a story in texture — aged, slightly warped, and still holding bits of plaster from the wall it once adorned. The painting, reminiscent of a Dutch still life, had that moody depth and quiet richness of tone that draws you in. Our task was to flatten, preserve, and frame it in a way that respected both its age and its artistry.

To achieve the right balance of grandeur and support for the oversized canvas, we chose a substantial gold moulding. But one moulding alone didn’t quite deliver the scale and presence the artwork deserved — so we doubled up on the frame, carefully combining two complementary profiles to create a bold, elegant surround.

The process was meticulous. We eased the canvas flat without disturbing the fragile surface and worked to retain its character — every brushstroke and speck of plaster a reminder of where it came from.

The finished piece is breath taking: a Dutch-inspired still life framed in opulent gold, its historical scars beautifully preserved. What was once part of a crumbling wall is now reborn as a centrepiece — a fragment of history, framed for generations to come.

​If you have a project which requires extra attention to detail please get in touch. We love these kind of projects.