Beautifully distressed, one-of-kind, corrugated iron picture frames.
Each frame has its own fabulous and individual patina. No two frames are identical. The patina comes from a mixture of three things; its age, the amount of care it was given whilst in use and the various coats of paint it received during its lifecycle. Nail holes, various degrees of rusting and oxidisation also add to the patinas.
Unfortunately it is not possible to order a specific colour unless you visit our workshop. (And at any given time we hold a stock of around 30 sheets). Frames can be polished, varnished, oiled or left in their naturally weathered state. They are finished with either a wire to hang on walls or a stand for table tops.
SHOWCASE
We produce frames to fit three sizes, A4, A6 and A7. (That’s full scap, postcard and half post card). The clips on the back allow for one centimetre of bleed on each side so you will have no difficulty in cropping your image. The three sizes accommodate both photographs (inches) and paper sizes (centimetres).
Frames are also available on order to fit any given size, to frame photographs, designs, paintings and mirrors.
I’d love to receive commissions for restaurants, hotels, lodges, private homes… you name it.
PRODUCTION
The corrugated iron is found at scrapyards in Khayelitsha, demolition companies and some pieces just arrive at my workshop door. Each frame is hand made by artisans in our Woodstock workshop. Frames are all metal; the four sides of each frame are woven together using thin strips of metal and then fold pressed on each corner. Clips to hold the glass are woven onto three sides, using corrugated from the same sheet, so that the colours are harmonious.
(It was whilst I was living in Madagascar that I fell upon the idea of developing a corrugated iron frame and it was thanks to a local craftsman who taught me how to weave metal that this design finally materialised.)
To my knowledge, this is the only workshop of its kind in the world. We employ two artisans who can produce approximately 20 frames a day, depending on the size. Maximum order is 100 frames, unless prearranged.
HISTORY
Corrugated galvanised iron (colloquially corrugated iron or paving) is a building material composed of sheets of hot dipped galvanised mild steel, cold rolled to produce a linear corrugated pattern in them.
It was invented in the 1820’s in Britain by Henry Palmer (Patent no.5756) architect and engineer to the London Dock Company. It proved to be light, strong, corrosion resistant and easily transported and particularly lent itself to prefabricated structure and improvisation by semi-skilled workers.
