Tray Frames
An incredibly simple and stylish design, the tray frame is perfect for framing canvasses or photographic prints that have been drymounted.
By concealing untidy edges they instantly create an elegantly defined object that really adds strength to the artwork. Often the face of the frame is very thin to maintain a minimalist feel.
Tray frames have no glass, and the artwork is set back slightly below the face of the frame to prevent damage. Tray frames are unobtrusive, and a great way to display large scale artworks without the expense of specialist glazing.
About the tray frame
1. Frame
The tray frame will either be made from wood or welded aluminium, and finished with handstain, sprayed, or powder coated. Aluminium trays have just a 3mm face, and wooden trays start from around around 8mm.
2. Mounted Artwork
Tray frames are most commonly used to frame a stretched canvas. It is also possible to use a tray frame with drymounted artwork, or work that is done directly on a very rigid substrate (eg. painting on 18mm plywood).
3. Shadow Gap
A space is left between the edge of the artwork and the tray frame, called the shadow gap.
With canvasses this is often just 1mm all around the image to give a precise fit. A 5mm gap
with drymounted artwork creates the appearance of the work floating in the frame.
It could also be distance floated with a border before the frame to create a large gap.
4. Hanging System
Tray frames are either hung from strap hangers attached to the rear of the frame, or with a split-baton.
Examples
Polished aluminium
To contrast against the dark and textured canvas, this aluminium tray with a 3mm face was finished with a high polish.
With a shadow gap of around 3mm, it allowed room for the slightly uneven edge and allowed the eye to follow the surface down the sides.
Oak tray detail
This canvas was commission by the client in Thailand, and we mounted it on a back board sprayed in a complementary green. An oak tray frame was put around the canvas to give it definition, and this was all set inside a larger oak frame.
Stretched canvas
This old painting was brought in by a private client with a bad tear in the canvas. We took it off the old stretchers, fixed the tear with some linen, and re-stretched the work on premium quality stretcher bars. We then hand painted the frame with a custom dark grey colour we mixed in our workshops to complement the subtle tones of the painting.
