I picked this up at an estate sale today. I really liked the frame but tried to do a bit of research on art. I am not even sure what to call it. Would this be a print or etching? Is it an original? I know it’s not one of a kind, but could it be a reproduction? Is the frame antique? Sorry I am a total newb on this. Thanks!
I don't know the specific type of print, but (in my opinion) a mass-market reproduction with little resale value. Enjoy the frame. (He liked those little Cupids.) http://ancestryimages.com/proddetail.php?prod=g6296
Thanks. That’s kinda what I was thinking. I’m not so sure I love the cupids. But didn’t want to ruin anything special.
There are lines evident in the draperies, but not in the foliage: I'm guessing this is another phone photo. A scan of the print might yield better detail. The one in the link above says photogravure, but I don't know if this print is the same as that. For the one in the link, where you would expect to find a credit for the engraver, it says "By permission of the Berlin Photographic Co." If this is an example of that print, it looks like it has been trimmed of all its titles. Under the best of circumstances it would be a steel plate engraving. Art magazines published a lot of such. But given a date of 1896, it could be some subsequent photographic reproduction technique. If trimmed as it appears to be, its value would still be minimal even if a steel plate engraving. cfh can compare the size of his print to the size of that in the link.
So if I really like the frame, but am not in love with the Cupid, then I really shouldn’t have to worry about doing any damage when I replace the artwork in the frame. I only have to worry about damaging the frame itself. Right?
