BESPOKE HAND CARVED ART FRAMES
CUSTOM DESIGNER PICTURE FRAMES
The gorgeous frames on this page were all designed in-house and then carved and built by Master Picture Framer Curtis O’Dell right here in our Soho workshop. Almost anything is possible! All these frames can be further customised in terms of size, shape, colour, finish, pattern, etc. You can also send us your own ideas for a picture frame. We would then work with you to produce a sample before moving ahead to create a one-of-a-kind, custom carved picture frame for you.
For further information or if you have any questions, please get in touch today on phone or email. You are also welcome to pop in and see us. Curtis, as well as his colleague Dylan Hall would be happy to see you by appointment.
Cost of Our Custom Carved Frames:
All our custom carved picture frames are made to exact client specifications. The examples below can be customised in terms of size, colour, material, etc. Cost depends on the profile shape, size, complexity and materials. We also welcome client sketches of their own designs and visions, which we would use to produce a sample if requested. Please contact us for details and quotes.
SohoFrames Exclusive Design 1
BIRDCAGE 1
This example was made from solid walnut timber, which was carved in several sections before being assembled into the finished picture frame. The frame profile is 10mm wide across the front face and 50mm deep.
BIRDCAGE 2
This view shows the internal space, which was designed to give a large profile frame and beautiful lightness. Of course everything is customisable so the inside could be gilded for example to reflect more light.
BIRDCAGE 3
A close-up of the corner construction. We can make this frame both wider and narrower, and also in a tray or canvas floater frame style. You are welcome to pop in and see this example for yourself. No appointment needed for this!
BIRDCAGE 4
This different view we feel gives further insight into the loveliness of this picture frame design, which is suitable for both artwork and mirrors. Please remember that everything can be customised to suit your exact requirements.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE DESIGN 2
ISLAMIC ART INSPIRED 1
The core design of this example picture frame was influenced by Islamic art and we built the frame with the same airy principles as the original Lightness of Being. This too was made from walnut with a gold interior. This example has profile dimensions of 80mm x 40mm.
ISLAMIC ART INSPIRED 2
The view from above of this incredibly detailed and what we think is a stunningly beautiful creation thanks to Curtis’s artistic talents and technical build magic.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE PICTURE FRAME DESIGNS 3 & 4
QATARI 1
These two examples have the same design. However, the leftmost example was carved from solid walnut plank and finished with an oil polish. The other example was carved from tulip wood and then gilded in 23k gold leaf. The profile size is 40mm x 40mm but any size of possible, and like all the picture frames on this page we can adapt them for the tray or canvas floater frame style.
QATARI 2
The same custom engraved design, but this time in finished in our Desert Colours of lavender and beige with a 25% satin finish.
ISLAMIC ART INSPIRED
This beautiful carved walnut filigree design was set into a walnut support shell with a polished liquid copper base. We are currently producing further examples of this design with different Islamic inspired patterns over other liquid metal finishes, which can be seen on the Custom Colour page of our website.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE DESIGN 5
AFRICA WALNUT 1
Carved from solid walnut, Curtis finished then finished it with a special recipe of stains and oil polish to achieve the final look. No mater what size of picture frame is needed, he would adjust the pattern so it fits perfectly around the entire circumference. This example is 110mm wide across the front face x 50mm deep.
AFRICA WALNUT 2
Another view of the same profile. The following photos show the same design in different woods, and yes, if you would like it in bright pink, for example, of in 23k gold leaf, we can also do this.
AFRICA OAK 1
Curtis carved this example from solid American white oak timber hand selected from our wonderful timber yard. It has the same profile dimensions as the walnut example.
AFRICA OAK 2
Different angle to display the way pattern of the two lengths match exactly up at the corner whatever the size of the requested picture frame. This oak example was finished with a light wax to protect the wood while keeping it as raw as possible.
AFRICA SAPELIE 1
For this example Curtis also carved the side of the picture frame to match the front face design. The wood is sapelie, which gives it a gorgeous coppery look.
AFRICA SAPELIE 2
A close-up of the outside corner to show the side patterning as well as the pattern matching where to the two different lengths meet.
AFRCIA SAPELIE 3
More angles to give you the best insight into the picture frame example.
AFRICA SAPELIE 4
With larger picture frame profile dimensions there are basically two ways to make these. The first is to carve the entire frame from solid timber and solid timber sections, like the walnut and oak examples above. The other option to reduce the cost and often the weight, by making the frame a composite of different materials. This example was built around a Medite MDF core. We could also have used tulip wood, which when paired with a super luxury wood like walnut, for example, makes for a significant cost reduction.
AFRICA SMALL
Smaller carved examples of the same pattern, leftmost from walnut, rightmost from oak. All the frames on this page can be inspected in our workshop. No appointment needed. Most are on the wall!
AFRICA CUSTOM PAINT
Same pattern design, different finishes, leftmost solid walnut with a smaller front face width of 60mm but a deeper side depth of 50mm. The other example we custom sprayed white with a soft satin finish. Almost any colour is possible.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE DESIGN 6
PUNK ROCKER 1
Well, we think it is a bit punk rock and we designed this original example to frame a photograph of the Sex Pistols. It was carved in one piece, this from a slab of 50mm thick German acrylic (though we also use MDF as well as woods like tulip and lime for painted versions of this design). This example is black with a finish called Gun Gloss.
PUNK ROCKER 2
These were carved from American walnut, one with a twin row of studs, the other with a single row. Studs can be larger or smaller, and in any number of rows. Everything can be customised.
PUNK ROCKER 3
A triple row of smaller studs was carved into this deep walnut example. As we make these to exact specifications, we can increase the depth to fit an artwork like a stretched canvas (and we can also make this frame in the tray or canvas floater frame style) or a 3D artpiece. This example is 50mm wide x 50mm deep.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE DESIGN 7
FLEMISH WALNUT 1
Wow. If we say so ourselves. A traditional design but with Curtis’s own twist, detailed in the next photograph! This solid wood picture frame is 120mm wide x 40mm deep.
FLEMISH WALNUT 2
This angle shows the “Curtis twist”. In the original old design of this classic picture frame the outer surface of the face was patterned with chisel marks. Curtis lifted the design into the 21st century by replacing simple chisel marks with tiny rows of punk rocker studs.
FLEMISH CHARCOAL 1
A version made from tulip wood, stained black and lightly polished with hard wax oil.
FLEMISH CHARCOAL 2
A close up of the matched corner and the tiny background studs. We can also custom spray this frame in a huge selection of colours along with matt, satin or gun gloss finishes.
FLEMISH BROWN 1
The same design as the others and in the same size but with a chestnut stain over tulip wood, done to give a soft antique look to the frame.
FLEMISH BROWN 2
Another close-up of Curtis’s enchanting background studs. Before we would have never imagined that punk rock could be worked into a classic old european picture frame design.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE DESIGN 8
BISHOPSGATE BLACK AND GOLD 1
Inspired by a design seen carved into an old City building near Liverpool Street Station, Curtis decided to make a suite of picture frame examples using this distinctive pattern. This example is 70mm x 40mm.
BISHOPSGATE BLACK AND GOLD 2
A single row of the same exclusive design. Both the Black and Gold versions were made using solid sapelie wood with the inner and outermost edges stained black and polished with oil. The central portions were gilded with 23k pure gold leaf. This example is 40mm wide x 50mm deep. Like all our designs, we can modify this frame into the tray or canvas floater frame style.
BISHOPSGATE WALNUT 3
This example has the same 70mm x 40mm dimensions as the large Black and Gold version but with a single diamond pattern. Made from solid walnut and polished with oils.
BISHOPSGATE WALNUT 3
Different angle to display the way we make sure that the pattern remains continuous around the entire circumference of the picture frame regardless of the size.
BISHOPSGATE WALNUT 4
Same profile shape and 70mm x 40mm size, but with a smaller pattern carved into the surface.
BISHOPSGATE WALNUT 4
The ability to change the depth and size of the carved pattern allows us to match perfectly frame to artwork. And again, everything can be customised to suit your exact preference.
BISHOPSGATE WALNUT 5
Same smaller pattern but this time craved from sapelie and stained black with a soft oil polish.
BISHOPSGATE WALNUT 5
Different angle of the same ebony version. We can of course carve this from any wood, stain bright colours with the grain to show or with a smooth finish in matt, satin or gin gloss.
BISHOPSGATE OAK
Solid white American oak with a single row pattern. This example is 40mm wide x 30mm deep. Size and number of rows can be carved into almost any profile size, and of curse, in any wood. Please just ask.
BISHOPSGATE NARROW
A narrower version of the single row oak example, walnut on the left and oak again on the right.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE DESIGN 9
ART DECO THEATRE 1
We adore this design and it gave Curtis quite a few technical headaches before he succeeded in making a picture frame that reached the required standard. This example is 62mm wide x 40mm deep.
ART DECO THEATRE 2
A corner close-up of this picture frame. The square section is 70mm x 70mm x 40mm. The entire picture frame was gilded in 23k gold leaf. Can also be custom painted in a huge selection of custom colours and finishes.
SOHOFRAMES EXCLUSIVE DESIGN 10
GREEK
These carved examples have a profile size of 45mm wide across the front face x 30 deep on the side. The leftmost example is oak with walnut on the right. Once again Curtis makes sure that the pattern remains in an unbroken chain around the circumference of the picture frame whatever its size.
GREEK GOLD
This example was carved into Medite MDF and then gilded with 23k gold leaf.
