Ancient Egyptians and the Greeks are credited with the concept of frames for pictures, dating back to AD 50-70, where “framing borders” were used in paintings on pottery and walls to create sections of scenes.
More attention was paid to making frames fit into an architectural setting,” rather than the frames being created to ‘’complement the paintings they surrounded” as compared to picture frames which are used merely to “frame” beautiful pieces of art, photography, archival documents and treasured mementoes.
The twelfth and thirteenth centuries ushered in the hand-carved, wooden frames that we recognise today.
These frames were used as part of a church’s decor, and provided borders to separate the different paintings and sections within the sanctuary—much like the concept of framing borders introduced centuries earlier.
Art
However, when they were first developed, frames were included in the art and even considered a piece of art themselves.
New framing methods were developed as a result of more individuals’ interest in the arts outside the church, making "painted units” more common.
During the Renaissance, particular care was taken with regard to wood choice, such as poplar, walnut, linden, chestnut, or elm, for frames, especially regarding their purposes—structural or decorative.
Nowadays, picture frames are used merely to “frame” beautiful pieces of art, photography, archival documents and treasured mementoes. However, when they were first developed, frames were included in the art and even considered a piece of art themselves
The twelfth and thirteenth centuries brought about the hand-carved, wooden frames that we recognise today.
First, the artwork was made by painting, meaning the area in which the artwork was demarcated by the carved frame and the artwork was later added.
Free-standing mobile pieces, which are mostly similar to what we see today, began in Europe, used mainly in churches, until displaying them in private homes became popular.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Oak and pine picture frames became popular, mainly because they were easier to work with until they became time-consuming to carve the intricate details and patterns that were expected in frames, then the introduction of papier-mâché.
Particular care was taken during the Renaissance concerning wood choice, such as poplar, walnut, linden, chestnut, or elm, for frames, especially regarding their purposes—structural or decorative.
Additionally, when framing portraits of monarchs and other noble individuals, the types of frames and the materials used in the Renaissance were directly related to their wealth and power.
Ghana's picture framing history could be traced to the pre-colonial period, although the introduction of European picture framing by colonial masters plays a major role in the shift from indigenous or cultural framing to the more modern frames we see today.
The establishment of Art Colleges and introduction of teacher trainees in the School of Art of Achimota College in 1937 by Herbert
Vladimir Meyerowitz [1900-1945) were very instrumental in shaping the picture framing industry as we see it today although the College was later transferred to Kumasi in 1952 to become a foundational course of the School of Art in the new Kumasi College of Technology Science and Arts (KCT).
Successively, they are "The Scottish Period" (1952-1962), "The Asihene-Nkrumah Quadrennium" (1962) (1963) (1964) (1965) (1966) and "The Post-Nkrumah which, for the most part, was an "Art and Crafts" curriculum and an outgrowth of the Arts and Crafts Specialist Course (ACSC) for teacher trainees introduced in the School of Art of Achimota College in 1937.
C. P Mensah, E. K. J. Tetteh, E. O. Dartey, C. F. Nkuatotse and T. H. Amonoo, Regina Nanor, O. A. Bartimeus and Sally Turner became pioneers of the 3-year Specialist Art Teachers' certification of Kumasi College of Technology, 1952-1955, who would go on to produce a number of exceptional students and artists.
The introduction of biennale-scale exhibition projects inspired emergent exhibition cultures in Accra in the first and second decades of the century by helping most alumni work with emergent art and cultural spaces and communities in Accra after graduation.
Exhibition
The introduction of exhibition and the increase in the number of professional artists and photographers skyrocketed the demand for art and picture framing, with the introduction of antiques and the use of local wooden and foreign floaten frames for artists.
Over the last three decades, Ghana's photo framing industry has seen a surge in demand, partly due to the springing up of photo labs and printing companies.
Today, individuals, artists and corporate bodies use frames either for decoration or as a means to reward individuals for their exceptional contribution to the community or company at large in the form of citations or certificates.
Most picture frames are imported, although there are a few professional photo restoration and framing companies, such as 57 Photo Frames, an online and in-store picture framing company which specialises in the use of Wooden, Antique, fibre, floaten or local hand-crafted frames for their customers.
Before the boom in the demand and importation of foreign frames, local frames were used in the 80s and early 90s before shifting to plastic framing.
The early 2000s witnessed the demand for glass frames.
Today, due to the various uses of picture frames, ranging from Jersey or memorabilia, certificates, citations, vacation, pets, wedding, arts, etc., different varieties and designs have also emerged as a result of the demand and globalisation.
Canvas, perplex and regular glass in 2mm and 5mm, art framing and the use of cutting-edge technology to edit images before print and framing, modern cutting and joining machines have all made it more convenient for picture frame lovers to send their files right from their phones or other media to various picture framers and have their work delivered within hours or days.
Most framers are within the capitals, with Accra hosting the finest and most of them.
The writer is the Director of 37 Photo Frames.
