Urban Art Association

Framed or in-framed purchase, by met on Jul 9, 2015 20:58:32 GMT 1,

Jun 12, 2015 19:09:43 GMT 1 londonfx said:

Do people get put off when purchasing a print (usually on the secondary market) when it has been framed?

If it was an inexpensive print that's easily accessible then I guess people would just go for the unframed version, and sort the framed out themselves?

What if it was a Banksy print? Are people worried about the quality of framing, materials used etc...

Would people expect to pay slightly less if the print was framed rather than unframed?

If given the choice as a potential buyer, I opt for unframed prints.

With valuable framed prints, whenever possible I insist on examining them (or having them examined) out of their frames. If that option isn't available (e.g. sometimes with auction houses or uncooperative private sellers), and comprehensive and credible details regarding the framing are not fully disclosed, then this increased risk to me affects the amount I'm willing to pay.

Especially with contemporary prints that are less than, say, 15 or 20 years old, I place a real premium on condition. Some collectors aren't too bothered, which is great for them because it dramatically increases their purchase options. For me, however, condition issues can be critical because my eye is always drawn to and distracted by damage or faults. Mere knowledge of the existence of unseen damage (e.g. skinning or tape marks on the back of a print) can affect my enjoyment of artwork.

Bar very rare exceptions (e.g. where suitable polypropylene framing corners have been competently used), you no longer have a truly mint-condition print after framing. Again, that's more of an issue for some than for others.

If you don't know who framed a work on paper, or you don't have full confidence in the materials used by a named framer, then for your peace of mind it may be preferable getting someone you trust to reframe — or partially reframe, like replacing the mount backboard and glazing.

Materials used aren't always possible to identify with certainty by visual examination after framing. So you may not be able to fully judge framing quality until years later, when damage from any non-archival or non-museum-standard materials and methods starts to become apparent — by which point it's rather late or even too late.

Jun 12, 2015 19:09:43 GMT 1 londonfx said:

Do people get put off when purchasing a print (usually on the secondary market) when it has been framed?

If it was an inexpensive print that's easily accessible then I guess people would just go for the unframed version, and sort the framed out themselves?

What if it was a Banksy print? Are people worried about the quality of framing, materials used etc...

Would people expect to pay slightly less if the print was framed rather than unframed?

If given the choice as a potential buyer, I opt for unframed prints.

With valuable framed prints, whenever possible I insist on examining them (or having them examined) out of their frames. If that option isn't available (e.g. sometimes with auction houses or uncooperative private sellers), and comprehensive and credible details regarding the framing are not fully disclosed, then this increased risk to me affects the amount I'm willing to pay.

Especially with contemporary prints that are less than, say, 15 or 20 years old, I place a real premium on condition. Some collectors aren't too bothered, which is great for them because it dramatically increases their purchase options. For me, however, condition issues can be critical because my eye is always drawn to and distracted by damage or faults. Mere knowledge of the existence of unseen damage (e.g. skinning or tape marks on the back of a print) can affect my enjoyment of artwork.

Bar very rare exceptions (e.g. where suitable polypropylene framing corners have been competently used), you no longer have a truly mint-condition print after framing. Again, that's more of an issue for some than for others.

If you don't know who framed a work on paper, or you don't have full confidence in the materials used by a named framer, then for your peace of mind it may be preferable getting someone you trust to reframe — or partially reframe, like replacing the mount backboard and glazing.

Materials used aren't always possible to identify with certainty by visual examination after framing. So you may not be able to fully judge framing quality until years later, when damage from any non-archival or non-museum-standard materials and methods starts to become apparent — by which point it's rather late or even too late.