Collectibles Archives - Driving for Deco

Whether you collect Art Deco or just want to add a touch of deco to your home, a picture frame is one way to go. Practical and with a wide variety of materials, designs and sizes, one would fit into almost any decor. The price for vintage deco frames can vary from extremely reasonable to extremely high-end. Just a word of advice before you buy any vintage frame, be sure the support stand on the back is in good to excellent condition.

Fairly easy to find are mirrored glass, partial reverse painted with foiled back accents, complete reverse glass painted, and cardboard. More difficult, and more expensive are carved wood (I’ve never seen one in person), tooled leather, natural stone, Lucite and Bakelite frames. The designs range from traditionally feminine floral patterns in pinks and purples, to traditionally masculine angular designs in browns and hunter greens. A majority of the ones I have seen and purchased fall somewhere in-between in style and price.

My favorite are the complete reverse glass ones and the variety of designs available is endless.

: Waiting for the perfect picture.

: Two reverse painted and Cobalt mirror frames

: Marbleized background with gold metallic accents

If you find a frame that you love but the picture you want to use is too small, center the photo and let the inside show through around the picture. Another idea would be to add fabric behind the picture to create a frame within the frame. If you decide to use decorative paper as a liner, please be sure it is acid free! And if displaying vintage picture, DON’T cut your photos. Find a proper size frame (or larger) or copy (resize) your vintage photos.

: The picture in the back is free floating in the frame.

: An example of a vintage picture in a vintage frame.

: Another picture floating in the frame.

As I mentioned before, frames came in a variety of sizes from compact size, suitable for a lady to easily carry in her hand bag, to oversized, suitable for displaying on your grand piano. (after all, who doesn’t have one of those?)

: The largest and smallest in my collection

: The reverse side is a mirror suitable for Mi’lady to check her face

: Here is a foiled back frame next to a reverse painted frame.

: Marble and brass support twin panes of glass to hold the picture

: Another one waiting for the perfect picture

Need several frames that are identical for a wall grouping? As mentioned in an earlier post (Deco-rating my bedroom), you can color-copy a frame (resizing to your need) to create matting within a larger frame. Or, use this color-copy method to add detail around a picture mounted inside an inexpensive Lucite frame.

Color copies of original fashion prints can be used when you need / want multiples for a cohesive look.

Cardboard frames are fairly easy to find and are very often the least expensive. The reason for the low price is that the picture is often glued inside and the frame itself may be sealed, If you are lucky enough to find one where the picture can be easily removed, I recommend that you snap it up. Below is a beautiful example of how exuberant cardboard deco can be. Next to it is another grouping – take note of the leather frame with applied gold accents.

: Who knew cardboard could look so good?

: Reverse painted and leather bi-fold frame.

You know you’re going to display pictures in your home so, why not do it in style!

Freakin’ ‘Tiquen’ guys on vacation

Chris and Anthony.

Note: The “Freakin’, Tiquen Guys” (Chris & Anthony) are very pleased to have our friend Nancy be the first guest contributor to Driving For Deco.

I’ve been a frequent antiquing companion of the “Freakin’ ‘Tiquin Guys” for about ten years now, and fortunately they’re not in competition with me when it comes to one area of collecting – vintage handbags. I collect many kinds: delicate beaded bags, arts and crafts tooled leather handbags, Cordé fabric handbags, even grandma-type floral chenille bags. And of course art deco bags if I’m lucky enough to find them for a good price. As Anthony and Chris would agree, half the fun of antiquing is finding what you like at a good price!

So here are some examples of the art deco bags in my collection. First, a few clutches. I love this blue velvet one with rhinestone clasp. It’s so simple in its classic deco design.

But nothing says deco more than a circular geometric design. This striking little black and white beaded clutch was a real find:

This cream leather clutch with tooled Egyptian design is likely one of the oldest deco bags I have. Although undated and unmarked, it is likely from the early- to mid-1920s, an example of the Egyptian revival in popular culture inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in late 1922.

The most well-known name in vintage mesh handbags is Whiting & Davis. They are usually very well marked, either with the name stamped on the inside of the frame or with a small metal tag located on the inside of the frame. The deco of the bag can be in its frame, in the design of the enamel mesh, or both. These three Whiting & Davis bags are great examples of the types you might find:

Here’s one more enamel mesh bag, but it is unmarked and the maker is not known:

And last, when I found this bag, I dubbed it “the most beautiful purse of my dreams.” I just had to have it, and luckily I got it for a good sale price. It is a steel-cut beaded bag, made in France. The design of the beads is very subtle and difficult to capture in a photo, but in person, trust me, it’s dazzling!

And finally, here’s a sneak preview for perhaps another possible guest post here in the future: other art deco accessories such as this sweet little compact featuring wire-haired fox terriers (you know, “Asta”!). So stay tuned for another day of compacts, dress clips, and shoe clips!

Driving for Deco

We will drive anywhere to find great Art Deco.

Category Archives: Collectibles

Picture Perfect – Art Deco Frames

My favorite are the complete reverse glass ones and the variety of designs available is endless.

As I mentioned before, frames came in a variety of sizes from compact size, suitable for a lady to easily carry in her hand bag, to oversized, suitable for displaying on your grand piano. (after all, who doesn’t have one of those?)

You know you’re going to display pictures in your home so, why not do it in style!

Chris and Anthony.

Like this:

Accessorizing with Deco – Purses, Hand Bags & Clutches.

Note: The “Freakin’, Tiquen Guys” (Chris & Anthony) are very pleased to have our friend Nancy be the first guest contributor to Driving For Deco.

So here are some examples of the art deco bags in my collection. First, a few clutches. I love this blue velvet one with rhinestone clasp. It’s so simple in its classic deco design.

But nothing says deco more than a circular geometric design. This striking little black and white beaded clutch was a real find:

This cream leather clutch with tooled Egyptian design is likely one of the oldest deco bags I have. Although undated and unmarked, it is likely from the early- to mid-1920s, an example of the Egyptian revival in popular culture inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in late 1922.

Here’s one more enamel mesh bag, but it is unmarked and the maker is not known:

And finally, here’s a sneak preview for perhaps another possible guest post here in the future: other art deco accessories such as this sweet little compact featuring wire-haired fox terriers (you know, “Asta”!). So stay tuned for another day of compacts, dress clips, and shoe clips!

Like this:

My favorite are the complete reverse glass ones and the variety of designs available is endless.

As I mentioned before, frames came in a variety of sizes from compact size, suitable for a lady to easily carry in her hand bag, to oversized, suitable for displaying on your grand piano. (after all, who doesn’t have one of those?)

You know you’re going to display pictures in your home so, why not do it in style!

Chris and Anthony.

Share this:

Like this:

Note: The “Freakin’, Tiquen Guys” (Chris & Anthony) are very pleased to have our friend Nancy be the first guest contributor to Driving For Deco.

So here are some examples of the art deco bags in my collection. First, a few clutches. I love this blue velvet one with rhinestone clasp. It’s so simple in its classic deco design.

But nothing says deco more than a circular geometric design. This striking little black and white beaded clutch was a real find:

This cream leather clutch with tooled Egyptian design is likely one of the oldest deco bags I have. Although undated and unmarked, it is likely from the early- to mid-1920s, an example of the Egyptian revival in popular culture inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in late 1922.

Here’s one more enamel mesh bag, but it is unmarked and the maker is not known:

And finally, here’s a sneak preview for perhaps another possible guest post here in the future: other art deco accessories such as this sweet little compact featuring wire-haired fox terriers (you know, “Asta”!). So stay tuned for another day of compacts, dress clips, and shoe clips!

Share this:

Like this: