Ogee frame
Unknown Artist
ca. 1840–50, style 1700–1715
Medium
Oak lower moldings; lime upper moldings.
Dimensions
Overall: 55 1/8 × 46 1/16 in. (140 × 117 cm) Sight: 41 15/16 × 32 1/16 in. (106.5 × 81.5 cm) Rabbet: 42 15/16 × 32 3/4 in. (109 × 83.2 cm)
Classification
Frames
Culture
French
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2529
Art Historical Context
This elegant Ogee frame, crafted in France around 1840–50, exemplifies a masterful revival of early 18th-century (1700–1715) ornamental styles. The ogee profile—characterized by its distinctive S-shaped double curve—creates a rhythmic, undulating contour that was a hallmark of Baroque and Regency frame designs, adding depth and movement to surround paintings. Measuring 55 1/8 × 46 1/16 inches overall, it features oak for the sturdy lower moldings and lighter lime wood for the upper sections, a practical choice that balanced durability with fine carving potential. Though created nearly 150 yea...