Spotlight on Eli Wilner Noted Frame Conservator

With a collection of more than 3,000 antique frames, Eli Wilner & Company is able to pair frames with paintings in a way that is consistent in terms of style, artistic composition, and era. Using centuries-old techniques, Wilner and his master craftsmen match the finishes and crispness of detail to create the perfect union of painting and frames. According to Wilner, “A great painting is partially invisible until it is framed properly.”

Wilner, a SAAM Director’s Circle and American Art Forum member, created reproduction frames of the three paintings by Thomas Moran hanging in the Renwick’s Grand Salon. He is currently making a frame that will be used for educational purposes in the Lunder Conservation Center when the museum reopens in July 2006.

Framing Initiative
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is hunting for period frames and pedestals for works in the permanent collection. With your support, the museum can return treasured paintings and sculptures to their original settings. For more information, please call the Development Office at (202) 275-1510.