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Detail of the frame for Tintoretto's The Muses
Frames in the Royal Collection

A guide to the history of frames in the Royal Collection

Glossary

A list of terms that are used when discussing frames:

Acanthus  Stylised classical leaf form
Agate  Silica-based stone
Applied ornament  Ornament that is not carved into the timbers of the frame
Arabesque Scrolling and interlacing pattern, often with foliage
Back edge Outside bottom edge of the frame
Bole Coloured clay used as pigment
Bolection Raised moulding with the high point towards the front or middle.
Burnished Polished by rubbing
Cartouche Stylised shield, or frame, often with scrolling surround
Compo Abbreviation of composition
Dentil Repeating small block pattern
Drops Ornament that has the appearance of hanging vertically
Egg-and-dart Repeating ornament of ovals and points
Gadroon A series of raised convex curves
Gesso A ground made from animal glue and bulked with chalk or plaster
Glazing Protective glass in the frame
Hazzled Continuous zig-zagging groove cut in gesso
Husk Stylised outer shell of a seed
Knull Highest point, or top edge of a frame
Leaf-and-tongue Repeating ornament of leaves, often acanthus, followed by a plain 'tongue'
Member One side of the frame, be it top, left, right or bottom
Mitre A corner joined together at a diagonal angle
Ogee An 'S' shaped curved
Pressing A moulding pressed from a cast
Raffle leaf Reverse section frame with acanthus-and-tongue
Ribbon-and-stick Ornament with the appearance of a ribbon wrapped around a central rod
Rosin Also known as colophony, a resin made from pine
Scoop Hollow area on the front of the frame
Sight edge Front edge of a frame, from where the picture is visible
Size An adhesive used to bind one material to another
Surmount Ornament that has is top on the frame, often the top centre
Trophy Carved elements of a symbolic nature connected to the painting's subject

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