Architectural molding
Unknown Artist
ca. 1670
Medium
Pine
Dimensions
Overall: 46 3/4 × 56 9/16 in. (118.7 × 143.6 cm) Sight: 37 13/16 × 47 13/16 in. (96 × 121.5 cm) Rabbet: 39 15/16 × 49 13/16 in. (101.5 × 126.5 cm)
Classification
Frames
Culture
British
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2346
Art Historical Context
This exquisite architectural molding, crafted from pine around 1670, exemplifies the refined woodworking traditions of late 17th-century Britain. nearly four feet across, its generous dimensions suggest it was designed to frame a substantial painting or serve as an ornate architectural element in a grand interior. The "sight" and "ret" measurements indicate precise joinery tailored for securely holding artwork, highlighting the era's meticulous craftsmanship in creating frames that enhanced rather than overshadowed their contents. During the Restoration period under Charles II, British decora...