Conservation Framing in San Francisco: A Weimar-Era Watercolor at Underglass
Some pieces arrive with a strong point of view, and the framing either rises to meet it or it does not.
This one is Domina Mea, a watercolor and India ink work by Rudolf Schlichter, painted in 1927 and 1928 during the height of the Weimar Republic. Schlichter was a German New Objectivity and Dada artist, and this piece is exactly what you would expect from that combination: expressive, direct, and charged with intention.
Conservation framing in San Francisco at Underglass means we approach every piece on its own terms. This project is a good example of what that looks like in practice.
The Frame: Faux Leather and the Logic Behind It
The frame is faux leather with a dark finish that catches light the same way the subject’s boots do in the painting. That connection was intentional. When a frame material references something specific in the art, it stops being a border and becomes part of the visual experience.
We did not arrive at faux leather because it was unusual. We arrived at it because it was correct for this piece. The tension in the artwork called for a material with that same quality, something with presence and a little edge.
The Mat: Beige Field, Black Fabric Reveal
Under the main beige mat, a narrow reveal of black fabric mat. The reveal is small, just enough to register as a shadow line between the mat and the frame. It echoes the dark tones in the painting and adds a layer of depth that you feel before you consciously notice it.
The beige field keeps the mat neutral enough to support the artwork without competing with it. The black reveal underneath does the quiet work of tying the whole composition together.
Conservation Framing for a Work on Paper
A watercolor and India ink work on paper from 1927 requires careful handling. We used archival mounting , with reversible hinges that will not damage the paper over time. The glazing is museum quality, with high UV filtering to protect the pigments from fading and virtually no reflection so the surface of the artwork reads clearly.
Conservation framing in San Francisco at Underglass means the piece is treated the same way it would be in a museum collection. The materials we use are chosen to protect the art for the long term, not just to make it look good today.
We have been doing this for over 40 years in the Castro, and that experience shows in the decisions we make on every project.
Holiday Framing Is in Full Swing
If you have a piece you want framed as a holiday gift, now is the time to bring it in.
Underglass gets busy this time of year, and the earlier you come in, the more you get to work with. Some of our mouldings are made to order at our vendors and take time to arrive before we even start building. The longer you wait, the more we are working from what is already in stock rather than the full range of what we carry.
We will still be taking on holiday framing projects in December, and we carry a selection of ready-made frames for projects that need a faster turnaround. But if you want every option open to you, November is the time to come in.
Bring Us Your Piece
Conservation framing in San Francisco at Underglass, in the Castro District. Whether you have a work on paper, a painting, a print, or something that has been waiting for the right frame, come in and we will design it together.