Lowy

Established in 1907, the fine art conservation studio at Lowy has a long history of preserving works of art. The painting and paper conservation studios treat works of art from all periods from Old Masters to Contemporary. Lowy’s experts have treated works by the world’s most celebrated artists, including French Impressionists such as Renoir, Monet and Degas; American Painters and Illustrators such as Sargent, Chase, Rockwell and Parrish; Nineteenth Century American Landscape painters including Church, Cole and Bierstadt; and Twentieth Century masters such as O’Keeffe, De Kooning and Rothko. We will meet all of your conservation needs with museum-quality care.

The art of gilding has evolved over thousands of years. At Lowy, our master gilders still use this traditional process to create exquisite gilt frames. A thin layer of 23 karat gold leaf is carefully applied over a frame prepared with many coats of gesso and bole to produce a finish that can be burnished to simulate the appearance and luster of solid gold. The use of white gold, originally developed to imitate platinum, is common today as a finish for contemporary frames.

Lowy master craftsmen make replica frames such as this early 20th century American Impressionist style frame entirely by hand, using the same tools, techniques and materials that have been used for centuries. Intricate carving and beautifully patinated gilding are meticulously done in our ateliers. Throughout our history, Lowy has collected, copied, and created thousands of frames ranging from ornately detailed period pieces to sleek contemporary designs. These handcrafted works of art represent the broadest selection of reproduction frames available anywhere. https://lnkd.in/eBZj4ZXj

Lowy recently had the opportunity to create this replica of a fabulous 17th century Italian cassetta frame for a portrait by Amedeo Modigliani, "Figure in Black Cloak" . Watch master gilder, Luciana Torres, painstakingly create the finish on the frame from start to finish in our video.

Do you own a work of art on paper that was framed more than 30 years ago? Then it was most likely not framed archivally, for much of the expertise that we have today was simply not available at that time. Even if your work on paper has been framed more recently, then you still cannot be sure that the framing was done properly unless you know that it was handled by a reputable framer who uses only archival methods. Just what is archival framing and why is it crucial for works of art on paper? Read more here! https://lnkd.in/eKuye9ax

At Lowy, skilled artisans meticulously repair or replace any missing ornamentation to restore the frame’s original charm. This involves carefully matching the style and design of the missing elements and utilizing techniques such as hand-carved wood or newly cast composition ornaments, identical to the original ones.

Lowy is not just a framing business! Our conservation and photography studios have perfected techniques that enable us to create enhanced digital reproductions of artworks that are beautiful and expertly-executed stand-ins for the original works. These replicas are becoming increasingly important for the serious collector. Here Adam is applying transparent acrylic gel to a photographic image, mimicking the brush strokes and impasto.

Lowy offers a large selection of period mirrors and a complete line of fine contemporary and antique reproduction framed mirrors in a variety of styles. In addition, our thousands of antique frames can be fitted with mirrors. There really are endless possibilities awaiting to create the perfect accent to your home interior, made to your specifications. Check out our antique frame catalog on our website, view mirrors from our inventory, and contact us with your questions about decorative mirrors!