Image 1. - 18th/19th Century carved Hogarth style frames (pine and carved detail)
Image 3. - Good 20th C repro Hogarth frames (pine and composition)
Image 4. - 19th/20th C Hogarth style frame (gesso and composition)
Image 5. - A modern Hogarth moulding
I have mentioned before about so called Hogarth mouldings, nowadays this seems to mean pretty much any black and gilt frame, associated with framing antique and period prints. Although the modern Hogarth frames bear very little resemblance to the original Hogarth frames which were really quite special, they were made from polished fruit wood with a sanded flat and carved border. Even the modern and 20th Century mass produced versions, which really look quite cheap and nasty (see photos 4. & 5.), started out as a pine frame with carving and ebonised finish (see 1. & 2.) and these versions look very good on antique prints. Lastly it is still possible to have hand made Hogarth frames made (image 3.) which are much more authentic then and pre-finished factory made frame.
