Framed items—including framed photographs—are usually removed from frames and provided with appropriate alternative housing and storage; rehousing provides efficient storage, handling, and retrieval and is recommended in most situations. Before removing items from frames, you may need to consult with your supervisor, the curator, or the Preservation Coordination Librarian. In certain cases the frame contributes to the aesthetic and monetary value of a work of art, and the curator must be consulted when this could be a factor. In other circumstances, removal from a frame may damage the material, in which case the item is best removed by conservation staff.
Do not unframe:
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pieces that, once out of the frame, will still be too large for flat storage
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apparently fragile material that needs conservation treatment
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works of art in unfixed or fragile media (e.g., chalk, pastels, pencil, charcoal, oil painting)
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cased photographs such as daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, or other formats for which the frame constitutes an integral part of the research value of the item
If the material remains framed, consult the Preservation Coordination Librarian if there are questions about the quality of the matting and frame. Conservation may be necessary.
When an item is removed from a frame, consult with the curator regarding disposition of the frame. Depending on its condition or other factors, the curator may wish to retain it for exhibition or offer it back to the donor or another party. (Mass-produced, ready-made frames in poor condition can usually be discarded without involving the curator; consult with your supervisor in cases in which the difference is not clear.)
Storage
Where possible, house small items that remain framed in boxes with other collection material, taking precautions to prevent damage to the frame and to adjacent items. Framed items may be wrapped in several layers of tissue paper, or sandwiched between archival corrugated board.
Large items that remain framed are typically housed in the Art Storage ranges. Light-sensitive items, such as photographs and watercolor drawings, can be covered in muslin for added protection.
A large framed item may also be stored in its own box or in a broadside drawer. The dimensions of the box should match those of the frame as closely as is possible. Custom-made boxes can be created for odd-sized frames that do not fit well into standard oversize boxes. Mark boxes containing framed items with “Fragile: Glass” labels, and consult with Access Services about appropriate shelving locations (fixed as opposed to movable shelving).