Shuptrine’s Gallery is internationally recognized for creating custom handmade gold leaf frames that elevate fine art for generations to come. Our expert framing studio specializes in hand-crafted and hand-gilded frames, museum-grade conservation materials, and historically appropriate frame designs. Tailored to both traditional and contemporary artwork, each frame is designed as an integral extension of the artwork itself.
Every custom framing project at Shuptrine’s Gallery is approached with a deep understanding of aesthetics, preservation, and master craftsmanship. Whether it is a frame for a new acquisition or the refreshing of an established art collection, we adhere to the archival standards implemented by museums and historical institutions. Our commitment is to preserving the integrity, value, and visual harmony of each piece through archival methods and time-honored techniques.
Alan Shuptrine, master craftsman and gilder, is a leading practitioner of the lost art of water gilding with gold leaf. Shuptrine’s 40 years of experience have earned him a reputation for producing one-of-a-kind, museum-quality frames. His frames are sought after by collectors, curators, and historians alike. His work reflects an uncompromising dedication to detail, authenticity, and historical accuracy.
Over the past four decades, Shuptrine has framed the works of some of the most celebrated artists in history. He has framed the works of Andrew Wyeth, Henri Matisse, William Merritt Chase, John Singer Sargent, Maynard Dixon, and his father, acclaimed artist Hubert Shuptrine. Shuptrine’s handcrafted gold leaf frames are encasing priceless works of art in over 40 museums nationwide.
Each frame design is meticulously crafted to enhance and protect the artwork. The ultimate goal being that both the frame and the art endure with beauty, authenticity, and historical significance for generations to come.
Art Nouveau style lilypad frame with carved pads and stems. Reverse ogee profile, 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole, hand-wrapped off-white linen mat and gilded fillet. This frame was originally designed for an Alice Ravenel Huger Smith watercolor, Little Blue Herons, 1911.
Taos, American Western / Native American style frame with liner. 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole, raised 12Kt gold leaf ornamentation. Displaying an original work by Bert Greer Phillips.
American slant-style frame, water gilded with 12 Kt. white gold leaf. Displaying Cadence © Alan Shuptrine, watercolor, 20 X 24 inches
Carved interior, slant-style frame and water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf. Displaying "Portrait of Ethel Waters" Luigi Lucioni (American, 1900-1988), 1939, oil on canvas, 32 x 25 in. Part of the permanent collection of the Huntsville Museum of Art.
Hand-carved and stained driftwood frame. Inner frame is water gilded with 12Kt white gold leaf with hand-wrapped silk mat and gilded fillet. Displaying the original watercolor "Natural Beauty" by Stephen Scott Young.
1930s Depresion era style frame for William Halsey watercolor original, Taxco, Mexico. Carved and stained basswood interior, 22Kt gold leaf with inner and outer crowns.
Arts and Craft style frame, water gilded with 12Kt White Gold leaf. Corners accented with handcarved scrolls. A hand-wrapped linen mat displays the original watercolor, "Jewel" by Stephen Scott Young.
American style frame, California inspired with carved flutes and strapped ornaments in corner. Gilded with 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole. Displaying one of Alan Shuptrine's original watercolors of The Baylor School Series.
Western inspired frame and liner with handcarved paisley piercings and a sweeping ogee profile. Displaying an original work by artist Selden Gile.
Italian style frame with pierced acanthus leaf outer crown and deep cove interior. Gilded wtih 22Kt gold leaf over black and rouge bole.
Theatre frame, Comedy and Tragedy carved for corners, along with musical symbols.
Water gilded with 22Kt gold leaf over black and rouge bole.
Rustic American style frame with carved flutes and crescent moons. Stained deep rich brownish black with a 22Kt gold leaf liner. Displaying the original watercolor "The Witching Hour" by Alan Shuptrine.
John Singer Sargent inspired frame. Blending American underneath English and Italian styles, this special frame has a taste of every nation which John Singer Sargent loved. Commissioned by nationally acclaimed portrait artist, Bart Lindstrom, this spectacular frame is 8″ wide (but can be made any width), and incorportates reeds, coves, fluted coves, crossed ribbons and scrolled acanthus corners. Gilded with 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole.
Whistler inspired frame, water gilded with 12Kt white gold leaf over black bole. Interior panel darkly stained and French polished. Inner raised section, as well as fillet are gilded with 12Kt white gold leaf. The handwrapped linen mat displays the original watercolor, "Wedding Lace" by Stephen Scott Young.
Italian Casetta style frame with sgraffito corners, water gilded with 22 Kt. yellow gold leaf and 12 Kt. white gold leaf. Displaying an original oil by D. Akhriev.
Oval frame, handcrafted from raw wood. Cove interior and water gilded with 22Kt. gold leaf. Displaying a period painting.
Hand-hewn moulding, accented with gilded interior and exterior portions. Displaying the original watercolor "Helga" by Andrew Wyeth. This pieces is part of the Greenville County Museum of Art's permanent collection.
Stained and gilded Art & Crafts style frame with mahogany interior and an exterior, handcarved and water gilded with 12 Kt. white gold leaf. Displaying In the Marsh, Mt Pleasant © Hubert Shuptrine.
Curved corner frame with carved interior and exterior accents, water gilded with 12Kt. white gold leaf. Displaying "Purple Butte Arizona: by Jesse Benton Evans, and Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in. This piece is part of the permanent collection of the Huntsville Museum of Art
Gustav Klimpt inspired tabernacle style frame with reeded columns, ogee crowned pediment, and inlaid copper ornament. Gilded with 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole
Modernist Abstract style frame with gilded and faceted monolithic stones, 12Kt white gold leaf over black bole faux bronze, with matching gilded liner.
Japanese Kimono frame with carved 12Kt white gold leaf corners, black lacquer stiles and rails with padded Shantung silk background.
Hicks inspired American style etching frame with corner plinths and square acanthus rosettes. Gilded with 22Kt gold leaf over dark rouge bole.
American/Italian landscape frame. Stained deep brownish black over a rouge glaze. Inner liner gilded with 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole.
English Key Corner frame with gilded inner lip and rosettes. Stained dark brownish red mahogany, waxed and buffed. This frame was designed for antique prints, maps and etchings.
Contemporary Modernist style float frame (any width), gilded with 12Kt white gold leaf over black bole. Interior float space (½″) painted black.
Italian Cassetta style frame with sgraffito design etched into corners. 12Kt white gold leaf entablature with 22Kt gold leaf crown and lip. Designed for this restored antique Venetian map.
Antique Reproduction Frames
Carved corner reproduction frame with corner accents and water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf. installed with a hand-drawn French mat with marbling. Displaying a hand-colored etching by Mark Catesby.
Hudson River Valley style frame with ornamented cove, accented with hand-applied acanthus leaves in the corner. Water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf. Displaying Fisherman's Wife © Winslow Homer
Oil on canvas, 8 X 6.5 inches, part of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art permanent collection.
American style cove frame with carved exterior half-round. Water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf over rouge bole and patinated to complement piece. Displaying Boy Under the Tree © Norman Rockwell.
Art Deco style frame with lily motifs carved in to the corners. Water gilded with 12 Kt. white gold leaf. Displaying an original work by Anna Heyward Taylor, private collection.
Deep cove frame with carved exterior and interior quarter-rounds, water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf. Displaying Dogwoods © Jane Peterson, Oil on Canvas, 40 X 30 inches, part of the permanent collection of the Huntsville Museum of Art.
Art Noveau style frame with floral carving in corners. Water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf. Displaying The Copper Kettle © Margaret Huntington Boehner, oil on canvas, part of the permanent collection of the Huntsville Museum of Art.
Petite cove frame with corner ornamentation and hand-carved grooves. Water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf. Displaying The Mississippi Farm © Mary Ethel Dismukes, Oil on canvas, 12 X 22 inches, part of the permanent collection of the Huntsville Museum of Art.
Ornamented period reproduction frame, with hand-applied composition ornamentation and water gilded with 22 Kt. gold leaf. Displaying The Nest © Lyubena Fox, Oil on canvas, 18 X 14 inches. Private Collection
Portrait Frames
American Colonial style deep cove and quarter crown, raised swagged ribbon design in cove. 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole.
Arts and Crafts style frame, Childe Hassam inspired with carved fluted crown. Interior ribbon straps on corners, 22 Kt gold leaf over rouge bole.
The Wedding Frame. American style ogee and cove molding with applied corner ornaments of roses and acanthus leaves. 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole with mathcing liner.
Arts and Crafts style frame, Alan Shuptrine original design with carved flute/pillow corner repeat. 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole with matching liner.
Elizabeth O’Neill Verner frame, slanted Cassetta style profile with applied acanthus corner ornaments. Gilded with 22Kt gold leaf over rouge bole.
American/Venetian style frame with laxed crown repeat and scrolled acanthus interior lip.
Cove style, water gilded portrait frame
Simple portrait style frame with strapped corners
Panel style portrait frame with handcarved corners.
Cove style portrait frame with with hand-applied vine and leaf design