Archival Metal Portrait Frames


What makes a frame "Archival" ? Well, it really isn't the frame that is or is not archival. Rather, it is what's inside of it: The glass, matting, backing board and materials used to hold the art in place. Nielsen gives you 3 out of 4 here (you have to supply the acid-free tape or mounting tissue) to accomplish this. The glass is called Conservation Clear in frame-shop lingo. It is, basically, a glass sheet with an ultra-violet filtering barrier built into it. It stops 98% of all UV rays, helping to slow down the aging effects of UV on your artwork. The matboard and backing boards used in the Archival metal frames employ NielsenBainbridge's patented Artcare TM technology that neutralizes acids and pollutants. The combination of u/v filtering glass and acid-free mat and mount boards create the "archival" environment for your art.

Nielsen Archival Metal Frames have a contemporary, uncluttered look to them. They're simple geometric shapes done in matte, satin or Florentine etched patterns. The Basics frames have no mat, while the Photography and Gallery collections come with an 8 ply (double thick) archival mat and foamboard backing. Cosmopolitan, Studio and Tuscany all come with a Bainbridge "Frost" white, 4 ply Artcare TM mat and 2 ply back.

Shown below are NielsenBainbridge's Artcare TM Archival Metal Frames:

Nielsen Basics Archival Metal Frame

Basics is a flat-top, black metal frame for those who wish to frame their photos or art edge-to-edge without a mat. Or, if you plan to cut your own mat, you don't have to pay for one that you won't be using. Either way, you get a great, Basic frame. Comes with UV glass.
Stocked in 3 popular sizes: 8 x 10, 11 x 14 and 16 x 20.

 

  • To find out more about Basics or to order, click on the picture.

 

Cosmpolitan Satin Gold Metal FrameNew for 2007, Cosmopolitan has a brushed satin finish on the face and the side in Satin Gold or Satin Black. It's a profile that has been popular in their custom frame moulding line, and now you can have it as a ready-made frame. The curved, inward slope of the frame's face draws your attention to the matted art in a subtle way. Cosmopolitan comes with a 4-ply, Bainbridge Frost White bevel-cut Artcare TM mat, 2 ply backing and u/v filtering glass in 3 popular photographic sizes: 8 x 10, 11 x 14 and 16 x 20 with mat openings 5 x 7, 8 x 10 and 11 x 14 respectively.

  • To learn more about the Cosmopolitan collection, click on the picture.

Gallery Metal Archival Wood Frame

Nielsen's Gallery Collection has deep bevels galore! The frame has a very deep, inward slanted bevel, as does the 8 ply Gallery Mat that comes with each frame. The effect that a very large mat has on a photo is striking: It compels you to look at the splash of image and color in the midst of all the negative mat space. While it has a look you'll find in galleries, it definitely belongs in your home, showcasing those people most important to you. Offered only in matte black, it comes with UV glass and Artcare TM mat and backing boards. While it only comes in 11 x 14 and 16 x 20 sizes, you get your choice of landscape or portrait mat openings in the 4 x 6 and 8 x 10 mat openings (Landscape means horizontal and Portrait means Vertical).

  • Click  on the picture to learn more about the Gallery Collection or to order.

Let's face it: all Nielsen's ready-made frames are great with photographs. But what makes the Photography Collection special is that it has such a very, very thin edge on it as to nearly disappear. It's alot like one of their custom metal mouldings we sell a lot of in our frame shop. Also, this is the only model that loads from the edge like a professional-grade metal frame, rather than straight-in like most ready-mades. You can actually attach picture wire to this model (although it does not come with wire attaching hardware, but is offered as an accessory). Comes in 4 size/mat opening combinations: 11 x 14 with 5 x 7 opening, 11 x 14 with 8 x 10, 16 x 20 with 8 x 10 and 16 x 20 with 11 x 14 in matte black only. 

  • Click on the picture to learn more about the Photography Collection or to order. 

Studio Archival Metal FramesOne of the original Nielsen metal ready-made frame designs, Studio remains fairly unchanged after all these years. But now, it comes with a 4 ply Frost White Artcare TM archival mat, 2 ply backing as well as UV glass. It's a fairly thin, flat-top frame with a very slight crown to it that loads from the back in minutes. Comes in some sizes that are less commonly found in other models, such as 9 x 12, 11 x 17, 12 x 16 and 14 x 18. The 11 x 17 has no mat, while all other sizes do. Offered mostly in matte black with a few sizes in shiny silver with brushed sides.

  • Click the picture to find out more about the Studio Collection or to order.

Tuscany Silver Archival MetalTuscany Archival Metal frames from Nielsen have an etched, criss-cross pattern in the surface of the metal moulding called a Florentine pattern. What is so lovely about this surface treatment is that it does not show dust or fingerprints, is not light reflective and timelss in its look. Comes in a warm Florentine Silver or Florentine Black, similar to the Nielsen 97 profile. Tuscany comes with a 4 ply Frost White Artcare TM mat, 2 ply Artcare TM backing and UV glass.

  •  Click on the picture to learn more about the Tuscany collection or to order.