raw metal

This is the frame freshly gilded. It's awfully bright and garish by contemporary standards, and needs some toning down.

 

In adition to showing the wealth and status of the owner, in earlier times gold frames helped to correct for poor lighting conditions. The color of light reflected from real gold is the same wavelength as sunlight. A deep, convex frame can reflect a surprising amount of light onto the image it houses. They were initially displayed with very little toning. The way they look to us now, is the result of centuries of use, abuse and neglect. Most of the toning and finishing I do is intended to mimic the look of age.

Done