Own a Lowry Print? How to Frame and Protect It

On Wednesday 18 November, Bonhams' Modern British and Irish Art sale at New Bond Street includes what the auction house calls an important group of paintings by L.S. Lowry from a private UK collection. Leading them are A Lancashire Town, estimated at £700,000 to £1,000,000, and Excavations at Manchester, estimated at £500,000 to £800,000. The works are on public view in London from Friday 13 November until the morning of the sale.

Very few of us will be bidding. But Lowry's matchstick figures and mill towns are among the most reproduced images in British art, and a great many homes, in London as much as in the North West, have a Lowry print on the wall. From our workshop in Bollington, Cheshire, not far from the towns he painted, we see plenty of prints like these. Here is how to make sure yours is protected properly.

First, Know What You Have

Lowry prints fall broadly into two groups.

• Signed limited editions. Prints published during his lifetime and signed by Lowry in pencil. These are collected and, in good condition, can be valuable.

• Open editions and later reproductions. Posters and prints made in large numbers, often long after his death in 1976.

We do not value prints, and we would always suggest a specialist dealer or auction house if you think you have a signed edition. But it is worth knowing which you have before framing, because a signed print deserves the full conservation treatment, and its condition directly affects what it is worth.

Check the Old Frame

Many Lowry prints were framed decades ago, and older framing is often the biggest risk to them. The Icon guide to caring for art on paper puts it plainly: poor-quality mounting and frames damage more works of art on paper than any other cause. Things to look for:

• Mount burn. A brown line around the image where an acidic card mount has discoloured the paper.

• Foxing. Small brown spots, often made worse by damp or a poor environment.

• Tape. Yellow or brown stains along the edges where self-adhesive tape has been used to hold the print in place.

• Fading or yellowing. Lowry's whites are central to his pictures. If the paper has gone cream or yellow, light and acidic materials are the usual culprits.

• A print touching the glass. This can lead to moisture, mould and the print sticking to the glazing.

Our article on signs your picture frame is damaging your artwork covers these in more detail. If any apply, it is worth reframing sooner rather than later.

Conservation Mounting

Reframing a Lowry print properly starts with materials that will not harm it. A conservation mount and backing are acid-free and lignin-free, so nothing touching the print is slowly breaking down. The print is held with reversible hinges, not tape or glue, and the window mount keeps the image off the glass.

Never let a signed Lowry print be dry mounted. It is permanent, and it can seriously damage its value. If a print is already badly stained or stuck down, a paper conservator should see it before it is reframed. Icon's Find a Conservator directory lists accredited specialists.

UV Glazing for Lowry's Whites

Lowry's pictures depend on contrast: dark figures and buildings against that famous white ground. Light, especially UV, yellows paper and fades printed colour over time, and that shift flattens exactly the contrast that makes a Lowry look like a Lowry.

UV-filtering glazing blocks most UV before it reaches the print. Anti-reflective museum glass goes a step further by making the glass nearly invisible, which suits a picture full of fine detail. Our guide to UV protection in picture framing explains the options. Glazing slows fading rather than stopping it, so hang the print out of direct sunlight as well.

Choosing a Frame and Mount

A restrained frame usually works best for Lowry prints.

• Mount colour. A white or soft off-white mount that sits comfortably beside his whites, rather than a bright white that makes them look grubby. Testing a couple of shades against the print helps.

• Mount width. A generous mount gives a busy street scene room to breathe.

• Frame. A slim moulding in a muted finish, natural or stained wood or a dark tone, tends to suit. Heavy ornate gilt frames can overwhelm a print.

If you have several Lowry prints, framing them to match makes a strong group on a staircase or in a hallway.

Where to Hang It

The usual rules for works on paper apply: avoid direct sun, avoid hanging on the inside of a cold outside wall, and keep it away from radiators and spotlights. A well-framed print in a sensible spot will look the same for a very long time.

Seeing the Real Thing

If you are in London between 13 and 18 November, the Bonhams viewing is a rare chance to see a group of Lowry paintings up close, together with works by Henry Moore, Edward Burra and others. It is also a good opportunity to look at how fine works are presented and framed.

If you have a Lowry print, signed or not, that needs reframing, send us a photo and the size and we will recommend the mount and glazing. Our conservation framing page explains how we work, and you can see our full range of framing.