Shadowboxes
Object Framing & Collages
WWII Veteran's Career
We are always humbled when asked to artfully frame symbols of a military hero's career. With the client, we may select a myriad of objects to include in an eye-catching layout to convey the story of the individual's service.
This shadowbox includes:
- Colorized sepia-tone photo in a circle opening in a central location for emphasis
- Hat and lapel pins, and aviation wings
- Identification tags, including POW tag
- Ribbons displayed in an arc formation
- An oval cut around the main objects for emphasis
- Patches in an arc formation to mimic the oval
- Small buttons in four corners around the oval
- Larger buttons at the bottom for extra visual weight
- A lifted top mat with a rectangular cut around all of the objects
- Gold ribbon adhered to the top mat for additional emphasis
- Fabric linen mats
- Deep gold frame
- Museum glass
A Man's Passion for Golf
A shadowbox is a wonderful way to express an ode to sports achievements, passion, or fandom. The depth of a shadowbox allows for bulky objects such as jerseys, medals, gloves and balls, and larger shadowboxes offer room to display photos, tickets and other accoutrement along.
This shadowbox includes:
- A golf shirt
- Nine printed cell phone photographs from memorable times
- Artfully displayed playing cards
- A golf glove with a golf ball suspended nearby
- USGA membership passes in an arc formation
- Two golf tees
- A scorecard and pencil from a frequently played course
- Plush suede mat
- Deep black frame
- Museum glass
Signed Andy Warhol Book & Photo
The most precious shadowboxes are those that are near and dear to our clients' hearts. Objects that are intertwined with memories of a passed loved one, whether those objects are valuable on their own or not, are of great sentimental value to our clients and we work hard to give them an appropriate spotlight.
This shadowbox includes:
- Signed Andy Warhol book, wrapped and suspended in mylar
- Scanned and printed inside page with a second Andy Warhol signature and dedication to our client
- Typeset paragraph describing how the client was given the book
- Signed polaroid of Andy Warhol signing the book
- Scanned and printed caption on the back of the polaroid in the client's mother's handwriting
- Detroit Institute of Arts logo to signal the setting
- Newspaper photo of Andy Warhol in Detroit saved by the client's mother
- Lifted top mat to allow for the depth of the book
- Sleek modern frame
- Museum glass
The Beatles Album From Hamburg
Many items brought into Main Street Art for framing hold cultural significance as well as personal significance to our clients. Collectibles discovered at auction, vintage markets, or family attics require thoughtful preservation measures to retain their value. Framing provides the opportunity to put objects on display while protected in an appropriate fashion.
This shadowbox includes:
- Front and back cover of the first live album by The Beatles
- Vinyl record of the same album
- Music score of the only original song by The Beatles on the album, drawn in a circle around the album by the computerized mat cutter
- Limited edition artwork of The Beatles in Hamburg
- Two acid free colored mats for visual continuity between four objects
- Shiny blue-black fabric mat on top
- Custom cut to give the impression of the record sliding out of the album cover
- Antique-looking silver frame
- Museum glass
Romantic Bouquet of Roses
Some shadowboxes are built around a singular object of sentimental significance and physical depth. Dried flowers, hats, baptismal dresses and other bulky, fragile objects can be too precious to live on only through memories. Shadowboxes account for the physical depth of these objects, while offering the same opportunities for beauty, elegance and impact as framing works on paper or canvas.
This shadowbox includes:
- A dried bouquet of roses
- A satin bow to hold the bouquet together
- A white silk mat in the background and lining the sides
- Simple, deep champagne frame to
- Museum glass for clarity and UV protection
Mackinac Island Carriage Driver
A picture speaks a thousand words, but a few pictures, a plaque, and some objects tell so much more. Combining multiple pieces inside one frame tells a story to viewers, and can represent multiple perspectives or memories on a single theme.
This shadowbox includes:
- A plaque detailing the year the client worked as a carriage driver on Mackinac Island, as well as his own name and team of horses
- A scrap of his uniform featuring the logo of the carriage company he worked for
- Three photos of the team of horses
- A lock of hair from each horse
- Two grooming instruments
- A horseshoe from one of the horses
- A smaller, rusted iron-looking frame within to hold the weight of the horseshoe
- Fabric mats for texture
- A deep leather saddle-looking frame to encapsulate everything
- Museum glass for clarity
Popular Shadowbox Themes
Military/Service Decorations
ex. pins, badges, patches, photos
Sports Memorabilia
ex. jerseys, medals, patches, tickets
Heirlooms & Sentimental Items
ex. plates, jewelry, old tools
Collectibles & Items of Value
ex. record albums, historic documents
Memorable Moments
ex. weddings, graduation, retirement
Multiple Pieces That Tell a Story
ex. legacy, career, trips, family tree