<p><strong>Context</strong></p>
<p>The silhouettes were inexpensive novelty items mainly sold at gift and novelty shops or given away as advertising promotions.  They needed something as a frame so people wouldn't cut their fingers on the glass, and to give it some semblance of finished appearance.  But the economics limited it to the cheapest possible frame, with the fastest possible assembly.</p>
<p>That was a simple &quot;U&quot; channel folded from sheet metal.  The channel was notched so it could be folded into a rectangle.  Framing of the silhouette took just seconds: wrap the channel around it or slide the glass into the loosely formed frame, then catch the hook to lock it together.</p>
<p><strong>Style name</strong></p>
<p>I'll suggest that the reason it was hard to identify the style is because it really didn't have one.  The frames look like they were designed to be visually ignored to the extent possible.</p>
<p>They were never sold as standalone items, only as a component in a completed item, like a silhouette.  The silhouette had a style, but the frames were basically junk serving a function on a piece of art.</p>
<p>A few styles might come to mind to describe the frame.  For example, &quot;minimalist&quot; was suggested in several now-deleted answers.  Minimalist is a visual style that focuses on the essential; using limited materials, neutral colors, simple forms, and avoiding excess ornamentation to achieve elegance.  The frame does the first part as a result of being cheaply made, but wasn't designed or made to be elegant, and I would argue, didn't achieve it.</p>
<p>If it needs a style name, it seems like what would capture the essence would be something like &quot;cheap functional&quot; or &quot;junk chic&quot;, but I'm not sure those are standard, recognized styles.</p>
<p>There are merchants selling replacement frames online.  The descriptions are totally generic, like:</p>
<ul>
<li>metal frame</li>
<li>simple metal frame</li>
<li>silhouette frame (as in replacement frame for silhouette)</li>
<li>vintage metal replacement frame for reverse silhouettes</li>
</ul>
<p>There are dirt-cheap frames still made in a somewhat similar way--the simple folded sheet metal channel with notched corners.  Most of the ones currently made don't require end-user bending and locking, they're completed at the factory.  The metal is often embossed with some kind of design so it isn't just flat sheet metal.</p>
<p>They're fancier, but still generally referred to simply as &quot;frame&quot; or &quot;metal frame&quot;.  Finished items are typically referred to simply as &quot;framed <code>&lt;whatever&gt;</code>&quot;, or &quot;<code>&lt;whatever&gt;</code> with metal frame&quot;.  The frame is non-descript so there's no description or focus on it.  And since the frames were never sold on their own, they're more like a repair part for a silhouette if you want a totally authentic appearance.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-12T09:54:09.370Z
2022-04-12T09:54:09.370Z
fixer1234
<p>I have some convex glass silhouette paintings from the Benton Glass Company from the 30s or 40s. They came with metal frames, each bent from a single piece of metal with a hook on one end and a hole in the other for it to hook into. One of the frames broke, and I can't find any information about this style of frame. The best resource I've found about the paintings so far is <a href="http://www.glassencyclopedia.com/silhouettesonglass.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www.glassencyclopedia.com/silhouettesonglass.html</a>, but it only refers to the frames as &quot;thin metal frames&quot;.</p>
<p>I took this picture of one of the intact frames, opened so you can kind of see the hook closure.
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8uzGS.jpg" alt="this picture" /></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-14T03:06:53.803Z
uhh, a metal frame?
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-19T20:56:34.467Z
That's not really a style, just a simple method of constructing an inexpensive frame.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-04T20:58:46.130Z
Based on your question I queried the following term "silhouette picture frames metal"

And here is the ebay result which looks promising: https://www.ebay.com/itm/372935264492
harshikerfuffle
<framing>
What is this style of picture frame called?
Togashi
# What is this style of picture frame called?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-15)

I have some convex glass silhouette paintings from the Benton Glass Company from the 30s or 40s. They came with metal frames, each bent from a single piece of metal with a hook on one end and a hole in the other for it to hook into. One of the frames broke, and I can't find any information about this style of frame. The best resource I've found about the paintings so far is <http://www.glassencyclopedia.com/silhouettesonglass.html>, but it only refers to the frames as "thin metal frames".

I took this picture of one of the intact frames, opened so you can kind of see the hook closure.
![this picture](https://i.sstatic.net/8uzGS.jpg)

**Tags:** framing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: uhh, a metal frame?  
> **username_2**: That's not really a style, just a simple method of constructing an inexpensive frame.  
> **username_3**: Based on your question I queried the following term "silhouette picture frames metal"  And here is the ebay result which looks promising: https://www.ebay.com/itm/372935264492  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-04-12. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

**Context**

The silhouettes were inexpensive novelty items mainly sold at gift and novelty shops or given away as advertising promotions. They needed something as a frame so people wouldn't cut their fingers on the glass, and to give it some semblance of finished appearance. But the economics limited it to the cheapest possible frame, with the fastest possible assembly.

That was a simple "U" channel folded from sheet metal. The channel was notched so it could be folded into a rectangle. Framing of the silhouette took just seconds: wrap the channel around it or slide the glass into the loosely formed frame, then catch the hook to lock it together.

**Style name**

I'll suggest that the reason it was hard to identify the style is because it really didn't have one. The frames look like they were designed to be visually ignored to the extent possible.

They were never sold as standalone items, only as a component in a completed item, like a silhouette. The silhouette had a style, but the frames were basically junk serving a function on a piece of art.

A few styles might come to mind to describe the frame. For example, "minimalist" was suggested in several now-deleted answers. Minimalist is a visual style that focuses on the essential; using limited materials, neutral colors, simple forms, and avoiding excess ornamentation to achieve elegance. The frame does the first part as a result of being cheaply made, but wasn't designed or made to be elegant, and I would argue, didn't achieve it.

If it needs a style name, it seems like what would capture the essence would be something like "cheap functional" or "junk chic", but I'm not sure those are standard, recognized styles.

There are merchants selling replacement frames online. The descriptions are totally generic, like:

* metal frame
* simple metal frame
* silhouette frame (as in replacement frame for silhouette)
* vintage metal replacement frame for reverse silhouettes

There are dirt-cheap frames still made in a somewhat similar way--the simple folded sheet metal channel with notched corners. Most of the ones currently made don't require end-user bending and locking, they're completed at the factory. The metal is often embossed with some kind of design so it isn't just flat sheet metal.

They're fancier, but still generally referred to simply as "frame" or "metal frame". Finished items are typically referred to simply as "framed ", or " with metal frame". The frame is non-descript so there's no description or focus on it. And since the frames were never sold on their own, they're more like a repair part for a silhouette if you want a totally authentic appearance.


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