Framing - Information and Advice

Information and Advice

Installation

The process of presentation isn’t complete until the piece is in its final location. We work with a team of professional art installers who can advise on all aspects of installation, including security, hanging, layout and lighting. It is important to use professional fine-art handlers when transporting artwork; we have our own collection and delivery service within London and can recommend art shippers on a national and international level.

Even with a museum-standard frame to protect it, a work of art is at risk of deteriorating if it is not hung properly. Its condition can still be affected by such factors as light, temperature, humidity and airborne pollutants, so it is essential to take great care to provide a safe environment for your piece.

Light

Ultraviolet light can be highly damaging to sensitive artwork. Even if your frame includes special UV-filtering glass, it should never be hung in direct or bright indirect sunlight. Remember, too, that ultraviolet rays are found in artificial light sources as well as in sunlight; ordinary incandescent lightbulbs are safer than fluorescent or halogen bulbs, since they don’t emit as much ultraviolet light.

It is advisable to use a UV filter to monitor the amount of light reaching artwork. If the piece is on paper, it should receive no more than 50 lux – the metric measure of light intensity – and, if it is on canvas, fewer than 200 lux. By contrast, the light intensity of even a north-facing window is typically around 2,000 lux. Thankfully, UV-filtering films can be fitted to windows to cut down still further on ultraviolet rays. As some UV filters can reduce over time, we recommend that you have your framed artwork checked every five to eight years.

Temperature and humidity

Heat is an important factor in many chemical reactions, so extremes of temperature should be avoided in case they cause the breakdown of materials, An ideal temperature is somewhere between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius).

Humidity is no less of a problem. A humid atmosphere causes the base material to expand and contract at a different rate to the surface pigment, which can cause cracking. Mould and mildew also grow in humid environments. For best results, the level of humidity should be between 45 and 55 per cent – safely below the 65 per cent humidity level at which mould begins to cultivate.

The areas where artwork is displayed or stored must be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of mould and mildew, soiling and the infestation of pests. If you suspect any object has been infested, keep it in isolation until it can be treated by a conservator.

Never keep works of art in areas where there is the potential for high humidity or water leakage. Obviously, you should steer well clear of hanging them in such places as the bathroom and the basement, but beware also of uninsulated exterior walls, the areas above radiators, and the immediate vicinity of humidifiers, vaporisers or air vents.

Airborne pollutants

Like cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking, open fires are becoming increasingly uncommon, so the risks of smoke particles damaging your artwork are considerably smaller than they were even a few years ago. However, this does not mean that you have no reason to be vigilant about airborne pollutants. Even if the air does not contain smoke – and it goes without saying that it should not – it is worth bearing in mind that the act of cleaning or dusting can displace particles, which could damage your artwork if they should come into contact with it.

Consider, too, that if you can smell something, it is because your nose is detecting tiny particles in the air. Areas that are high in such airborne pollutants – such as a kitchen – should not be used to display artwork. Also, if a room has recently been painted, wallpapered or furnished – with, say, a new carpet, curtains or furniture – there can be high levels of impurities in the atmosphere, as well as raised humidity. It is therefore advisable to wait until the ‘new smell’ has dissipated before you hang your artwork.

To allow air to circulate properly, a framed artwork should have an adequate space around and behind it. We recommend fixing ‘bumper pads’ to the corners of the frame, which will ensure that it has room to breathe.