Swain Galleries

Framing

For the past 133 years Swain Galleries has specialized in museum quality custom framing. Swain's carries a complete line of frames. Swain's has always prided itself on attention to details. Swain's artisans hand make silk, linen, or velvet mats, as well as velvet easel backs. Also available are custom made 22kt gold beveled mats and elegant handpainted French mats. Preservation of your artwork is one of Swain's major concerns. Only the finest archival products available are used.

 

Appraisals

On Staff at Swain Galleries are qualified appraisers with decades of experience. Appraisals are done for insurance and estate purposes, and can be done on site for larger collections.

 

Consulting

Increasingly corporations large and small have recognized that, more than mere decoration, works of art can become valuable assets. Moreove, a wisely chosen collection can embody not only beauty and investment value, but can also enhance the work place and project a unique and positive image to the public. In the parlance of corporate America, Swain Galleries is a vertically integrated company. Perhaps alone in its field, it provides a complete fine art service: consultation, recommendation and acquisition, installation, conservation and restoration of art and museum quality framing. When advising corporate clients, Swain's does not "sell" paintings, but instead searches and assembles from galleries representing emerging and important artists, works which will match budget, and which will help to project an image appropriate for the company.

Among Clients Swain Galleries have served are:

MIDLANTIC NATIONAL BANKERNST & WHITNEY New York and Hackensack, NJ.CRUM & FORSTER Morristown, NJ. and Basking Ridge, NJ.JOHNSON & JOHNSON New Brunswick, NJ.BECTON-DICKENSON INC. Rutherford, NJ.FIRST ATLANTIC SAVINGS South Plainfield, NJ.SUMMIT BANCORP Summit, NJ.

No company need to spend more to acquire fine art with residual value than it does to buy cosmetic art which becomes obsolete when the decor is changed.

 

Gilding

Swain Galleries craftsmen specialize in the art of gilding. A wide variety of finishes are available in 22kt gold, from heavily antiqued to clean and modern gold or white gold finishes. Red, black and blue clays are available. Antique frames are often re-gilded for customers using the finishing techniques appropriate to the time period of the piece.

 

Restoration

The restoration staff at Swain Galleries are highly trained professionals specializing in frame, painting, and paper restoration. A frame can be re-gilded in 22kt gold leaf or gold metal leaf composed of gold and other metal alloys. Damaged frames can be repaired by replacing missing ornamentation, filling in cracks and putting broken corners back together.

Art restoration is an artform in and of itself. Damaged paintings can be thoroughly restored, tears and holes can be repaired, or a painting can be relined if necessary. Old varnish is removed, the painting is carefully cleaned. Abrasions and missing paint are retouched. The painting is then re-varnished to protect it from the environment.

Works on paper can also be restored. If necessary, the piece is unmounted, cleaned and deacified. The paper is then treated for mold, lightened and, if needed, stains removed. Rice paper supports are also available for extremely fragile works.

Services