Good Question: Similar Frame for Mark Ryden Prints?

Hey AT! I have plans to move into a new apartment this fall and I'm working on acquiring decor early. I have about 10 Mark Ryden prints that I'd love to frame and display, and actually build my living room around. I love the frames he uses, but most of them are hand carved and designed by the artist himself...

(Include a pic of your query and your question gets posted first! Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: boston (at) apartmenttherapy (dot) com)

Do you have any idea where to find suitable frames in his style? That first image is an example of one of his frames. I found something I think would work at the Juicy Couture store on Newbury St, but they're not for sale and the staff doesn't know where they were found. Internet searches have failed me. Can you help? Melissa

Thanks for you question, Melissa. The last place we saw a whole bunch of those frames was on the Subversive Cross Stitch website. Not sure the sizes will work but worth checking out. Beyond that, we'd try looking at thrift stores or antique stores. Anyone else?

(Include a pic of your query and your question gets posted first! Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: boston (at) apartmenttherapy (dot) com)

Comments (15)

Definitely check thrift shops. I see stuff like that all the time where I live (not helpful to you since I'm a plane ride away, but my city is way smaller than Boston). It's amazing what types of really bad art with fantastic frames end up in Goodwill or Salvation Army shops.

I'm looking for the exact same frame (Paul Insect print though). Silly me--I took it to the frame store where I was quoted $750.00. Off to the thrift store I go!

For the 2nd pic, I purchased that exact frame from Michael's craft store about a year ago. I've seen quite a few of the style in the 2nd pic at various department stores, but in black or black and gold. If you find the right style, you can always paint the frame. I think I even spotted it at Walmart, but maybe not in the size you are looking for.

For the 1st pic, I agree with ThatGrrl that you would probably have the best luck at Goodwill or other thrift shops.

And I love Mark Ryden. You should send in pictures of your room when you are done! I bet it will look great.

Flea markets and antique shops also carry ornate frames like this. And sometimes you can find plastic reproductions holding mirrors that you could convert (since the old ones are pretty expensive.)

Finally, most frame shops have stock that is pretty ornate, although maybe not THIS fancy.

So nice to see some Rydens on this site.

ebay. I bought a bunch of old gilt frames to spraypaint glossy white. The only problem is that many don't come with glass, and the sizes they list aren't always the opening sizes, but the size of the total frame just so you're aware...

Mark Ryden's art is beautiful, they absolutely call out for the baroque and ornate. The stranger the better, and I would definitrly start at a thrift shop....with the required hacks added to it, of course, that will protect those precious prints from any damage, they are more than worth their weight in gold!

thrift stores and garage sales. Usually they are a buck or less. I got about 5 last year- a huge one (24x36) was free! You just have to be up for painting them and removing the horrid artwork that is sure to be inside!

If found frames have no glass, any glass store will cut pieces for cheaper than a frame shop.

And any frame shope can cut mats to custom fit any frame.

So as long as the frame is bigger than the print, you can make it work, assuming you like the way the print and the frame (maybe with a mat) work together.

I saw a few frames just like the first one at Homegoods a few weeks ago. Also try Tuesday Morning.

in addition to flea markets or thrift stores, ebay or google "rococo frame" or "baroque frame", you will find alot of choices for under $100. happy hunting.

Nth-ing the thrift store recommendation.

Also noting: some of the older Ryden giclees are *crazy valuable* these days compared to the original prices. A collection was posted on Boing Boing a few weeks back and some of them had gone up by several thousand dollars. Wishing so much that I had bought "The Debutante" when I was considering it in... 2000, 2001, something like that. (Of course, if I had, I would probably be too attached to it to sell it....)

I realize this thread is now around 15 months old... but on the subject of Mark Ryden's frames, I felt I should write as it is still a current topic with the recent opening of "The Gay 90's Old Tyme Art Show" in NYC this past May. Anyone who would like to know about his custom carved frames can contact one of the people who has worked with Mark since the late 80's, straight out of art college. His name is Sean P. Riley. He lives in Thailand now and is responsible for producing quite a few of Mark's frames, especially the most detailed and incredible ones. This includes the frames for Mark's paintings "The Magic Circus", "The Ringmaster", "Sophia's Mercurial Waters", "The Creatrix", "The Apology", "The Tree of Life", "Yoshi - The Forest Spirit", "Allegory of the Four Elements", "Ghost Girl", "Logging Truck", "Incarnation" and "Pink Lincoln". He does custom work for anyone with an original idea does reproductions of most any frame imaginable. He can be contacted at "tikithai at gmail dot com" or "sean at allriley dot com". I'm sure he can help you get any Ryden frames reproduced for your prints.

Mark Ryden frame reproductions can be made by the very same person who makes them for Mark. Contact information is sean@allriley.com or tikithai@gmail.com