Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Jersey Shadowbox Frame


One of our framing team (Kelly) had a client come in with an autographed Chicago Blackhawks hockey jersey signed by the members of the 2010 Stanley Cup winning team, which he wanted framed similarly to one we have on display in our frame shop (that one was not autographed, but commemorated the players from the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks teams).



Kelly decided to use the same frame that was used on the display jersey, a Larson-Juhl 433082 1 3/4" matte black "Soho" moulding. While the display frame had a silver fillet added to the lip of the frame, she felt that a red fillet that matched the jersey would be more effective for this design. As you can see, she was right! It breaks up the black frame/black shadowbox background and adds a lot of visual power to the composition. She used a Larson 115635 Confetti Red 1/4" wide fillet.
A fillet attaches to either the lip of a frame to serve as an extender, or as a decorative element. It can, also, be added to the opening of a mat (cutting the mat with a reverse bevel first).

The other important detail was the brass plate added to the bottom of the shadowbox below the bottom hem of the jersey. We had this image and inscription made via a "dye sublimation" printing process, allowing us to use the Blackhawks' colored logo. It was just the right touch to finish off the shadowbox.


While it is hard to read the signatures of the Blackhawks players who autographed the jersey, you can tell that these were signed in person, not mass produced.


Instead of glass, Kelly used True-Vu Optium Museum Acrylic to glaze the frame. The acrylic is 37 x 48. Optium is a very special type of plexiglass. it has a 99% u/v filter to prevent fading, weighs half as much as glass, will not shatter, is scuff resistant and anti-static (unlike other types of acrylic). The jersey is sewn down rather extensively, too, to keep it from sagging or moving around in the frame. Like all preservation framing, it can always be removed from the frame and the sewn stitches cut to release the jersey at some future date. To be considered "preservation framing", it must always be reversible, as it is in this case.

Framing designed and executed by Kelly J. Spruth, CPF
Photos and commentary by Brian D. Flax, CPF