French Matting

For decades French Matting has been a lost art. Only in recent years has it resurfaced as a reasonable means of enriching artwork on paper. The French Mat should draw the eye inward and toward the focal point of the picture. Matting can give a delicate delineation around a picture. The end result of French Matting is an object of art seen through a decorative, delicate, and complementary window; a showcase for whatever one wishes to display.

A detail of a French mat with lines and a colored panel.

Some of the variety of gold, silver, and copper panels for French matting which we make in house.

A gold leaf panel being applied to a French mat.

The gold line inside the mat is a filet. Filets are narrow wood mouldings and are available in many styles and colors.

A close up of a filet.

Framing using a gold filet.