Design for a Frame
1841–84
Medium
Graphite
Dimensions
sheet: 12 11/16 x 9 7/8 in. (32.2 x 25.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1946
Accession Number
46.38.45
Art Historical Context
This delicate graphite drawing, titled *Design for a Frame*, from the London firm Charles Hindley and, active between 1841 and 1884. Created during the Victorian era, it exemplifies the meticulous preparatory sketches used by specialized frame makers to craft ornate surrounds for paintings, mirrors, and furniture. Measuring 12 11/16 x 9 7/8 inches, the sheet captures intricate ornamental details in soft pencil lines, showcasing the firm's expertise in blending architectural precision with decorative flair. In the 19th century, picture frames were not mere supports but integral to a room's aes...
About the Artist
Charles Hindley and Sons · 1841–1917
**Charles Hindley and Sons: Victorian Masters of Furnishing Design** Charles Hindley and Sons was a premier British cabinet-making and upholstery firm based in London, operating primarily from 134 Oxford Street. Established around 1820 by Charles Hugh Hindley, a furniture maker and upholsterer initially on Berners Street, the firm expanded significantly in 1844 by acquiring the rival establishmen...