Need to matte and frame a Dali painting I bought at auction.

I fit were me, I'd suit this to my own taste and budget. I'll ask you thus question? How do you know if this is only a copy - a print, which has no intrinsic value?. If it were a Dali original it would have the proper paperwork proving it's originality.

BTW, if it was shipped you can claim damages from the shipper on the insurance.

Generally speaking I'd find a frame shop ...cheaper than Michael's ... and have it matted and re-framed. Avoid buying a custom frame and avoid a custom-cut matt.Buy a neutral toned matt...factory standard size ..and/or a black frame (Nielsen) should be just fine.

On the other hand, what kind of auction? If it's a real painting of his, maybe it is worth a good frame. I do seem to remember he did quite a run of paintings to make money (I may have the wrong guy in memory, and they might have been prints instead of paintings), so some of his may be worth less. What a good frame is, is another question. I would rather have an old imperfect frame that made sense with the painting in its time than something that didn't work with it.

On framers, there are good ones outside the realm of chain store framing that have good judgement and don't cost an arm and a leg. I remember one framer in particular in Ferndale, California who was great and reasonable. Depends on where you live.

Alternately, if it's only a print, grab a frame you like, on the simple side, and keep the dollars from flying away, as Ragman advised.

In any case, I'm a believer in having frame et al fit tightly with no outside air (and bugs) able to enter. There are ways to do that that most framers know.

I found the thread where Lightwizard talks about the art business. Much food for thought in there. Anyway, at some point it gets to the Dali prints..

http://able2know.org/topic/140-1

(Now there's a person I miss)

You allegedly bought a Salvador Dali painting in an auction and the auction house DIDN'T INSURE the painting. Neither did you?


Are you sure you didn't buy a cheap poster? If so? Michael's craft shop can't be too expensive for cheap frames.

On the other hand? If it's a genuine Dali? Custom framing would literally be the only responsible way to protect ones investment.

Dali, at the end of his life, was signing blank pieces of Reeves paper and numbering them (as an edition). The unscrupulous printers, in collusion with Dali's family, ran some scribbledy lines (like A cy twombly painting) on litho stones and then ran editions of prints. The only thing youd have is an autogrph by a senile old man who didnt even know what he was doing.

A real, honest to goodness Dali PAINTING can be worth in the low millions. Therfore I ad to the surprise that it would be, seeing that it was not insured by the house.

Its a Dali poster or a Poster signed by Dali. either way, michaels is probably good enough

Hence the reason I asked the OP the question whether it is an original.

Well, hello Dali ... (singing)

Depending on size/period etc., some Dali can be affordable (also depends on your personal definition of affordable).

Friends of my mother had Dali originals in their home in Germany. Some very expensive, some much less so.

Rats, you used it before I could.

he started "signing" blank sheets when they did restrikes of his Men of La Mancha series with Don Quixote an Sancho Panza

P.S.
I just reread that thread. Farmer was in on that too. What a treasure trove of conversation.

Lightwizard was a real master wasnt he. Miss him

If it's an honest Dali print or painting and has value then I would invest the money into professional framing. I am a professional framer as my day job and it really is much more than wood and cardboard. The matting is not only acid free but archival - meaning it pro actively protects the art from pollutants in the environment by trapping them in the mat. The frames are lined in an acid barrier tape that keeps acids from the wood leeching into the matting and thus the art. The backing is also an acid free foam board and paper that is one more protective layer. Preservation strips and corners are used instead tape to secure the art. UV protected glass/acrylic prevent damage and fading. I would recommend paying the extra for the acrylic option if you plan on insuring the piece. Insurance will not cover art pieces with glass. If you choose to get it professionally framed make sure the place you take it to really uses true preservation quality materials.

I agree with Aldistar's good advice.
Apparently whoever voted her down doesn't know she is a longtime art poster on a2k and is not a promotional spammer or call and response poster.
Plus, her information is useful, and answered the poster's question well.

whats a good company that sells conservation and archival framing stuff?
I do most of my own matting and framing and stores like AC Moores dont seem to "get it" They do framing and all but they dont do it in a fashion that regards your admonition about "a good peiece of art deserves good display"