VALÉORINE London

Is framing safe for a valuable work?

Preservation, Storage & Insurance · Revised 3 August 2026

Labelled archival solander boxes on shelving in a climate-controlled store

Framing is safe when it is reversible. Insist on hinges of Japanese tissue and starch paste, a conservation-grade window mount, an inert backing board, a spacer so that the surface never touches the glazing, and ultraviolet-filtering glass or acrylic. Never allow a work to be dry-mounted or trimmed to fit.

Share

If this answer does not address your circumstances, write to us. Enquiries are reviewed individually and answered in writing.

Related questions

Related guides

Antiquarian books in linen book shoes beside a hygrometer and a soft brush

4 min read

Preserving Rare Books

Books are robust objects that fail in predictable ways. This guide covers shelving, handling, environment and the interventions an owner should never attempt.

Read the guide

A manuscript resting in a melinex sleeve inside a lined solander box beside a hygrometer

4 min read

Preserving Manuscripts

Manuscripts are unique, and their materials behave differently from printed books. This guide addresses parchment, ink corrosion, seals and the housing that manuscript material requires.

Read the guide

A photographic print in a window mount within an archival portfolio on an oak bench

4 min read

Preserving Works on Paper

Light is the principal threat to drawings, watercolours, prints and photographs, and its effects cannot be reversed. This guide covers framing, glazing, display periods and safe storage.

Read the guide