Good Framing Shops in Bangkok/Hua Hin - Any Recommendations

[Whiteshiva]

I have a whole bunch of oil & watercolour paintings, as well as several prints and posters that I would like to have framed. For the posters I am not too worried, but for the paintings and prints I need someone who knows what they are doing (using proper acid-proof passepartout/matting, etc).

I am looking for framing shops both in Hua Hin and Bangkok.

Any recommendations?

[Marmite the Dog]

I use the guy who has the photo shop next to The Ship Inn on Suk Soi 23. Very helpful chap and speaks decent Tinglish.

[Whiteshiva]

I use the guy who has the photo shop next to The Ship Inn on Suk Soi 23. Very helpful chap and speaks decent Tinglish.

Cheers, Marmers - I was really looking for someone who specialises in framings, but considering the thundering silence from the other posters, I guess I can't be too choosy

I'll check him out next time I am in that area - I know vaguely where Soi 23 is......

[Marmite the Dog]

There's a framing shop along Sukhumvit near the entrance to Soi 29, but I don't know if they're any good.

[stroller]

I used to have my framing done in Chatuchak market, there are a few stalls specialising in this, I recommend the one with the old bloke wearing glasses, he seems to know what he's doing, got some pretty valuable paintings to do there.

That is a few years back, don't know if he's still there, nor do I know anything about acidfree passpartouts.
Left turn at the main entrance at the corner and keep walking 3 or 4 blocks down there is a cluster of framing shops.

[Whiteshiva]

I used to have my framing done in Chatuchak market, there are a few stalls specialising in this, I recommend the one with the old bloke wearing glasses, he seems to know what he's doing, got some pretty valuable paintings to do there.

That is a few years back, don't know if he's still there, nor do I know anything about acidfree passpartouts.
Left turn at the main entrance at the corner and keep walking 3 or 4 blocks down there is a cluster of framing shops.

Cheers, Stroller - must admit I hadn't thought about Chatuchak. We are going there tomorrow (for some other shopping), although considering the size of the market, combined with the lack of reference points, I would probably need GPS coordinates to find the place you talk about.

Is it near the artists area - through the main entrance, straight down the road and on the right?

For those who may be interested, acidfree passpartouts (neutral pH) are basically used to protect the painting. Ordinary paper and cartoon releases small amounts of acid over time, and in a closed environment like the inside of a picture frame, this will in the long run damage the painting it is meant to protect. It costs a bit, but if the picture is worth preserving, it is well worth it.

Damn good site for anyone interested in the finer points of framings:

Home

[stroller]

Is it near the artists area - through the main entrance, straight down the road and on the right?

Artists area, yes. You may refer to a different "main entrance", perhaps the one where you pass some so-called 'antique' stalls with overpriced new Buddha statues?

I haven't responded earlier because my recommendation is a bit vague, possibly out of date. But I also have some paintings, as opposed to posters, and the guy commented straight away on the value and reassured me to take good care. Got an eye for frames and background colours as well - yes, a Thai, good English speaker.

[stroller]

On a related note, WS, or anyone else, I have a collection of paintings, some oil, some acrylic, and have not dared take them to Thailand because of the tropical climate.
Any comments, advice? (no, my place isn't air-con-ed)

[Whiteshiva]

On a related note, WS, or anyone else, I have a collection of paintings, some oil, some acrylic, and have not dared take them to Thailand because of the tropical climate.
Any comments, advice? (no, my place isn't air-con-ed)

Although no expert, I would not have thought oil & acrylic paintings are likely to be suffer any worse in a hot tropical climate than back home - although I would be careful with water based paintings - I should be able to tell you more in a year or two.

I did a little search, and found the following at reCollections: Caring for Cultural Material 1

Tropical
These climates are characterised by heavy rainfall, high humidity and high temperatures.

When caring for paintings in tropical climates it is important to note that:

insects and moulds thrive and reproduce readily;

chemical deterioration reactions generally proceed faster at higher temperatures;

materials that have been in a tropical environment for some time will have a high moisture content If they are suddenly moved into a drier environment they are likely to suffer shrinkage and warping of the support and stretcher;

many of the materials which make up paintings are very reactive to changes in relative humidity. For example the animal skin glue used as the size will soften; a wooden stretcher may warp, etc.; and

composite works such as collage will be particularly vulnerable.

Controlling moisture is important in a tropical environment.

Condensation may be a problem for glazed works and you may need to consider providing air holes in the backing board to allow adequate air flow. Cover these air holes with gauze to prevent insect entry.

Ensure that your storage and display spaces have good air flow.

For particularly moisture sensitive works you may consider placing RH buffered fabric or silica gel cells within the frame. You will need to discuss this with a conservator.

Note: If your collections of paintings have been kept in a tropical environment for a considerable period and they are stable—do not try to alter the environment to meet the recommended ideal conditions. This could do more harm than good. The emphasis should be on long term stability.

Hopefully that helps a bit. Personally I worry more about insects.

Basically, I think fluctuations in temperature and humidity (such as in a part-time A/C'ed room) would be a bigger worry than a stable tropical climate. But I could be wrong.....

[kingwilly]

i got a good framer, but i think u got one or two options now, PM if not.

[Whiteshiva]

Me & the missus spent a few hours yesterday trawling through JJ market in search of decent framers (plus a few other things). We started off the search in what I like to refer to as the "artists area" at the northernmost part of the market. This is also where the feeder bus to the car park stops/starts. Walk straight across the little square as far as you can get, and then turn right. There are a few nice places there to stop and have a cold drink.

Had a look around, and found only one shop selling nicely framed art (most painings were sold either unframed or with the traditional golden frame so common in Thailand (yuk!), and no glass). However, the passepartout was not very well cut and it turned out the artist was doing the framing himself. The salesperson was very friendly though, and told us to head over to section 22 of the market (south western area of market) where he knew there were several stalls doing framing.

We found our way back (!) to section 22 (as we had parked the car at the new mall adjacent to JJ market) and started a systematic (?) sweep of the area. We found a few shops that did framing on-the-spot, but that was all they did - no passepartout, no glass. There was a shop there that had a large selection of paintings and prints, professionally done, but alas, they did it themselves, and were not interested in doing framing for others.

We decided to call off the hunt for frame-makers, and went back to the area where we had entered the market to look for some nice bedside lamps for the bedroom (which we didn't find). And in typical Chatujak fashion, were you only find what you want when you actually stop looking for it - there, discretely tucked away between souvenir shops, was a fully A/C'ed shop () with tons of nicely framed pictures with glass and quality passepartout!!!! Only one slight problem - although the shop was open, there was nobody in it!

We sat down, enjoyed the cool air, and sure enough - after a few minutes a young woman appears and informs us that the shop has a range of boutiques (even about to open one in HH!!!!!!) and that yes - they do framing for 3rd parties at their workshop, only 5 minutes away from my office! We got the details, and I'll shoot over there sometime this week to check the place out.

More to follow!

KingWilly - Thanks but it looks as if I have finally found what I was looking for (touch wood, this is Thailand after all), but if you know someone good, please share it with the lot of us - there may be others who are interested.

[Marmite the Dog]

KingWilly - Thanks but it looks as if I have finally found what I was looking for (touch wood, this is Thailand after all), but if you know someone good, please share it with the lot of us - there may be others who are interested.

He's on 'holiday' at the moment.

[lom]

He's on 'holiday' at the moment.

That'll teach him.
But not how to spell..

[breezer1]

Did you find a good framing shop i would like get some done as well .

Thanx breezer

[Whiteshiva]

Did you find a good framing shop i would like get some done as well .

Thanx breezer

My wife's got the address, but I have been too busy lately to check it out, and we are going away this weekend. Stay put for a review sometime next week. Will try to take some photos if I'm in the mode.

[Whiteshiva]

Ok, the name and address of the shop is:

Bonus Group Thailand Co. Ltd
70/125-126, Moo 11
Pholyotin Rd, Soi 32
Ladprow Dist
Bangkok 10230
Phone: 02-9423506-7
Fax: 02-9423508

Picture taken outside the shop


Close-up of the signboard


They also have galleries/showrooms in Jatujak, Central Plaza, Carrefour Rama 4 and other places.

We visited the place last week, and they have a good selection of frames. The guy in charge seemed to know his stuff, and was very helpful in suggesting apporpriate framings and settings.




Here is a selection of pictures that have been framed - the white border between the paining and the frame is the passepartout.



Some more pictures and frames:

My stuff being measured & the cost of the job calculated:

We will be picking up the pictures at the end of the week, so stay tuned - I will give a full review of my impressions of the work done.

Oh, yeah - a project in the works, but very promising web site with more info:
Bonus Gallery

[hillbilly]

Another suggestion. This is a guy I use for all my stuff. His shop is on Ramkhamhaeng Soi 127.


His name is Chok and his English is so-so. The shop hours are from 0900-2230. Phone numbers are 084-002-1624 or 02-735-3793.

He may not be able to help but probably knows someone who can!

[rashisaraf]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum. I am planning an art exhibition in Bangkok and hence need temporary stretching for few canvases ther..can you please recommend a place where this cna be done at a low cost?