Original Jackson Pollock Frame Rediscovered and Restored by Eli Wilner

New York, NY, June 23, 2015 (Newswire.com) -       Jackson Pollock is recognized as one of the greatest artists of the Post-War era.  Though his work includes some of the most treasured objects in museums and private art collections worldwide, there remains a general misunderstanding regarding how Pollock approached the framing of his own work.  There is evidence that Pollock did not always prefer to show his paintings without frames, or in narrow strip frames as is often assumed.  A broad, painted frame is visible in several photos taken in his studio in East Hampton, New York (now the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center).

In an effort to better understand the artist’s attitude toward framing, Eli Wilner & Company conferred with Helen A. Harrison, Director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center.  Harrison indicated that there is documentation of instances when the artist framed his works himself.

Working on the restoration of this Jackson Pollock frame was a highlight of our studio.

Eli Wilner

In 1951 Pollock hired attorney Gerard Weinstock to write his will, with the agreement that a painting would be given as payment. The 12 x 20 inch painting, dating to the late 1930s, was donated to the Pollock-Krasner House in 2001 by Mr. Weinstock’s widow.  With the painting, Mrs. Weinstock included this recollection, "He brought over a portfolio of manageable-sized paintings and we selected one. …The following summer he presented it to us in a simple wooden frame he had fashioned."  Like the frame in the photograph of the artist’s studio, this frame has a simple profile with a stained and painted surface.

The Eli Wilner frame restoration studio recently completed the restoration of this artist-made frame.  Over time, the frame had sustained dents and small chips, and the painted surface had begun to deteriorate.  The skilled frame conservators at the Wilner studio carefully filled dents in the stained outer element.  Numerous small losses in the painted surface were in-painted, and areas of previous restoration were toned to blend more harmoniously with the intact original surface.  The restored frame has been reunited with the painting, and is now on view at the Pollock-Krasner House. 

About Eli Wilner & Company
Recognized as the foremost worldwide authority on antique frames, and founded in 1983, Eli Wilner & Company specializes in American and European frames from the 17th-century through today. Clients include fine art collectors, major art and historical institutions as well as The White House, where Wilner has created 28 frames for its collection.  Wilner is also famous for recreating the massive hand carved frame for "Washington Crossing the Delaware" for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

With an atelier composed of a team of highly skilled artisans, including 15 frame conservators, and over 10,000 custom framing projects completed to date, Eli Wilner & Company takes pride in each project. Every frame is handcrafted to not only reflect the time in which the painting was created, but also to best reflect the framing choices known to be made by the artists themselves.

Eli Wilner & Company
1525 York Ave, New York, NY 10028
(212) 744-6521
[email protected]
www.eliwilner.com