Antique Victorian Hand-Colored Lithograph in Ornate Gilded Gesso Frame

Description

View Antique Victorian Hand-Colored Lithograph in Ornate Gilded Gesso Frame with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. Condition Issues: The side profile image reveals significant chipping, cracking, and loss of the brittle gesso layer, exposing the white plaster substrate beneath. Gesso deterioration drastically reduces collector value because matching and restoring missing antique molded patterns is expensive. This framed artwork was 23x16”, is a print of Roland à Roncevaux (Roland at Roncevaux), a dramatic 19th-century oil painting by the French artist and illustrator Gustave Doré(1832–1883). [1, 2, 3] * The Subject: It depicts the legendary hero Roland making his final, tragic stand during the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778 AD, surrounded by steep, looming cliffs and the chaos of battle. * * The Frame: The print is housed in an antique, ornate, molded gilt-wood frame typical of the late 19th or early 20th century. [1, 2, 3] * Material Construction: This is a traditional molded gesso-on-wood frame. The ornate pattern is not hand-carved wood; instead, a chalky plaster mixture (gesso) was poured into a mold, pressed onto the raw wood backing, and then finished with gold paint or leaf. [1, 2] Condition Issues: The side profile image reveals significant chipping, cracking, and loss of the brittle gesso layer, exposing the white plaster substrate beneath. Gesso deterioration drastically reduces collector value because matching and restoring missing antique molded patterns is expensive. Overpainting: The frame looks to have been coated with a dull, flat bronze or gold metallic paint at some point in its life to cover up wear. Collectors heavily favor the original, bright, and reflective gold-leaf gilding; subsequent overpainting lowers the frame's historical appeal. Backing & Hardware: The back shows an authentic, period-correct rough-sawn wood frame with old iron nails holding the backing board in place. This confirms its age but means it needs careful handling so as to not disturb the brittle glass or print inside. Print is considerably warped. Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Decorative Collectibles › Frames.

Type

Photo Picture Frame

Item Height

16 in

Style

Victorian

Features

Ornate

Item Length

23 in

Item Width

Less Than 5 in