How to tell if a picture frame is old?

The frame a picture is in can be a really good clue as to how old the print actually is, of course it is not definitive but dating the frame certainly can help.

1. If the frame looks new to you then it most certainly is
2. If the frame looks old to you, make no assumptions, this is what we're going to look into here
3. Should the frame turn out to look old but actually be quite modern, then it is highly likely that the print is a modern one too

Frames are in essence 4 bits of wood joined together at the corners. The traditional way of doing this was with nails through one of the sides into the adjacent one, near to the corner.

However the modern method uses right angled wedges or staples, from the back and along the join line, this is done with an underpinner machine which was not commonly used until around 1980... thus any frame that has been joined together in this way can be reasonable assumed to be after this date.

Nails, Pins and Staples!!

Check to see how the backboard is fixed to the frame.

If staples are used then it is reasonably modern, I'd say 1980's or later.

Wedges are flat pieces of steel, often triangular shaped, these were commonly used around the 1970s and less commonly in the 6os and late 50s.

Nails or pins suggest an older frame, although beware of old pins that have been reused on a more modern frame - normally if you are aware of this possibility it is very clear that something is 'wrong' ... eg. the nails are a bit rusty but there is no rust residue on the backboard where the nail is.