*RESERVED FOR LAUREL* Antique French Gilt Brass Tension Easel Picture Frame, Circa 1890
*RESERVED FOR LAUREL* Antique French Gilt Brass Tension Easel Picture Frame, Circa 1890
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A French gilt brass table easel frame from the Belle Époque period, built around a spring-tension mechanism that holds a glass panel at a fixed display angle without a conventional backing or surround. The format was designed for the carte-de-visite era, when small portrait photographs were exchanged and displayed as a matter of social custom, and the engineering is elegant in its simplicity: a central brass spine connects a cast acanthus and anthemion crest at the top to a pierced rocaille scrollwork base rail below, with two curved legs spreading outward to form the tripod stance and a coil spring controlling the tension. A photograph or small print slides behind the glass and is held in place by the frame's own pressure. The gilding has worn to a warm amber brass across most surfaces, the period glass retains its characteristic green-tint edges, and the whole piece stands with the slightly imperfect geometry that comes only with genuine age.
The frame is in good antique condition consistent with its age. The gilding has worn significantly across all surfaces, leaving a warm amber patina on the underlying brass throughout. This is honest age wear rather than damage, and the piece is visually cohesive in its current state. The spring tension mechanism is fully functional and holds the glass firmly at the display angle. The period glass is present and free of chips or cracks; the green-tint edges visible at the edges are characteristic of glass made before modern float glass production and confirm the glass is original to the piece. The brass armature legs are not perfectly straight, which is consistent with age and handling over more than a century, but this does not affect the structural integrity or the frame's ability to stand and display correctly. The base rail retains its full pierced rocaille gallery with no missing elements, though some verdigris patina is present across the brass. There are two cast foliate ball feet rather than four; it is not possible to confirm from in-hand inspection whether the frame originally had four feet or was made as a two-footed design, but the piece stands stably as configured.
Shipping & Returns
All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the size and weight of the item. Local pickup is available at the AMD Warehouse.
All sales of antique and vintage items are final due to their unique, one-of-a-kind nature. Illuminé candles and The Collector's Guide may be returned within 14 days of delivery if unopened and in original condition.
If your piece arrives damaged, please photograph the damage immediately (including packaging), contact us within 48 hours at austynmariedesign@gmail.com, and do not discard any packaging.
Important Info About Antique & Vintage
Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
We describe the condition of each piece as accurately as possible in the listing. If you have specific questions about a piece before purchasing, please reach out. We are always happy to provide additional photos or details.
Colors may appear slightly different on screen due to monitor settings and photography lighting. We do our best to represent each item accurately.
