When Mounts are not Cream or White

While it is true that it is usually best to mount artwork in a neutral, non-obtrusive cream or white, sometimes these shades are not the desired option. Pale colours can sometimes be too stark or clinical or they fail to enhance the artwork.

There are times when other colours work best or sometimes it is the preference of the client who is looking for something a little different.

This teapot watercolour was mounted with a pale grey mount. The frame is a simple moulding with aluminium leaf gilded on the outer bead, part of our hand finished frames range.

This painting on paper depicting a scene with bamboo in the background also has a grey mount, making the frame feel part of the picture. The frame is an ash frame with a painted finish.

This Hogarth print is livened up with a deep red mount and a gold slip.

Black is often best avoided in mounts but when it works, it enhances artwork greatly. These Sufi miniatures look impressive mounted in black.

Chose the right shade and colours can be introduced into the frame design. For this potato etching, a muted blue was used.

A gilded inner bevel can finish off a mount's edge very nicely, illuminating the picture and following the frame design as with this watercolour portrait. A double mount can add further depth.

We think it is sometimes worth considering alternatives to white and cream mounts in your framing consultations. We provide a good choice of beautifully toned mount samples at Fine Artisan.