40 East 12th Street • New York, New York 10003 | Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm • Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm • Closed Mondays

Since 1970.

Our Village shop offers a wide variety of custom framing needs, from simple poster and consumer photographic framing to archival framing of originals on the following media:

  • paper

  • Masonite

  • canvas board

  • stretched canvases or those that
    need to be stretched

  • silk

  • muslin

  • ceramic tiles

  • three dimensional objects of all kinds

  • signed and numbered artworks on paper

You bring it, we’ll frame it!

What exactly is archival framing?

Also known as conservation or preservation framing, archival framing is designed to protect your piece of art over the long term. Museums have been using the technique for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that archival framing became available to the general public.

Back in the day, paper was made from cloth, and men, women, and even kids earned a small living as “rag pickers,” collecting old cloth to sell to paper makers. The Gutenberg Bible was printed on cloth-based paper, which is why some copies have survived to this day.

In the twentieth century, paper production shifted to using wood pulp, which contains acids and lignins that cause the paper to yellow and deteriorate, like old newspapers.

Thankfully, most high-quality original artwork is still made on cotton-based paper, and that’s also what we use in our framing materials. We use acid-free mats and backing that are gentle on your art.

To take the protection further we have a variety of glass and acrylic choices with UV protection, including museum glass, which is a perfect blend of advanced UV protection and anti-reflective clarity.

It’s all about ensuring your cherished pieces are kept safe and beautiful for many years to come.

Get creative and use your imagination.

Bringing something into our shop for framing can be a lot of fun. A place to explore your creativity. You can also rely on our experience and artistry, and if we have to gently suggest that “no, a pink mat isn’t right for this,” trust that this kind of honesty is what our customers appreciate.

We also specialize in first-time framing. We understand that all the framing samples can feel overwhelming, but it’s our job to narrow it down to what’s just right for you. And if it takes a little humor to put you at ease, we’re happy to provide that too.

Bottom line—just come in and explore. We’re all about being straightforward, getting to know you, and making sure you leave with something you love.

If that sounds a little “old school” then yes, we are proudly old school.