Each P.H. Miller Studio frame is uniquely designed and meticulously handcrafted. Unlike some of the large, production style contemporary frame makers, P.H. Miller is not limited by production lines or mass marketing designs and fads. Even our Studio Frame Collection is only a starting point.

    Peter Miller states, “Certainly a frame can be made to replicate one of the Studio samples for a mirror or if that's what a client desires for a particular painting, but we take pride in creating unique frames for each and every painting that comes to us.

    “We look carefully at each work of art and analyze it in terms of period, color, tone, texture, and geometric elements. From there, we make decisions about the shape of the molding, the color of the bole and karat weight of gold, carving details, and other surface treatments.”

    The P.H. Miller Studio has always employed this design method and has, with the launch of the Studio Frame Collection, given it the title of the Allusion Design Theory. [As a modern novel or screenplay may allude to a Shakespearean work, for example, P.H. Miller Studio frames allude to the works of art for which they are created.]

    Mr. Miller works with clients and their works of art to perfect a design that is appropriate for their painting and the client's style and preference.

    Depending on the situation, the design process begins in one of two ways. Traditionally, it happens in the Showroom by choosing various samples and viewing them with the piece. A client may also e-mail a photo of the work to be framed and then research and creative deliberation will occur in the Studio before proposing design ideas to the client. More often than not, an entirely unique design will be created by melding aspects from various Studio samples, as well as sketches and images from assorted source material.

    After the design process is completed, raw bass wood molding is cut and joined in the Studio's woodworking shop with spline-style joinery. Then, the frames are prepared for the gilding process. For many frames, this includes carving which is all hand done by Peter Miller. The carving process includes design, layout, and the actual shaping of the wood.

    When carving is complete, the frames are gessoed and hand sanded until smooth and lustrous. Bole, or clay, the colored layer seen beneath the gilded surface, is then brushed on. Next, the gold leaf is applied using traditional water gilding techniques. Then, proprietary toning solutions are applied to complete the finish. Finally, the back of the frame is painted and “P.H. Miller”, along with the Roman numeral year-created is hand carved into the back center rail. The result is a one-of-a-kind, signed handmade frame that truly completes and enhances the work of art it surrounds.