There is something about the technological skill and sense of artistic freedom conveyed by glass frames that encourages people to experiment with highly unusual designs. Some of these turn out to be extravagant, others are stunningly beautiful, while still others combine elements of the two.
The fact that glass frames are transparent opens up possibilities that are simply not possible with other materials as well. Wood, for example, is always opaque, so it’s much more difficult to make a frame that displays two photographs side by side. Glass can also be directly fused through the application of heat, allowing for easier and cheaper construction of unusual shapes that would involve screwing and nailing complex pieces of wood together.
Some Specific Unusual Glass Photo Frame Designs
Browsing through a large number of framing suppliers who include glass frames in their catalogs is a great way to discover a very unusual way to display your images. Many of these frames are extremely stylish and can be used for anything from fun and informal photos to the most serious or emotionally important photos of your life.
Some of the designs you might want to keep an eye out for include:
- Simple vertical sheet frames sandwiching two back-to-back images between thin glass panels. This allows you to display different images in different directions, or easily switch the image from one scene to another simply by rotating the frame. The glass panels are mounted upright on a glass base, fused to it as above to create a single piece. The panels can be designed for a vertical or horizontal photo.
- Cube frames take the principle of the vertical frame one step further. They are designed to display six square photos at the same time. They can be rotated to display different images at various angles, and make a great conversation piece as well as a glass “table art” piece.
- Swivel frames mount a pair of glass panels together in an upright position, allowing you to fit two photos inside. However, instead of being attached directly to the base, they are joined by a thin wedge of glass between their bottom edges, fused together for strength. The base is a round, oval or rectangular piece of heavy glass for stability. The frame is mounted on it by means of a metal pivot, so that the panel can be easily rotated to show one or the other image.
- Quad spinners are quite similar, but mount a second pair of panels transversely to the first, creating a cross-shaped arrangement when viewed from above. Up to 8 photographs can be placed in each of these spinners, making a truly remarkable photo display. The base can be round or square for stability, and is usually made of a very thick glass so the weight of the spinning wheel doesn’t tip over as you turn it.
- Some frames also have offset pieces of glass that protrude one behind the other, creating a sculptural effect that has an asymmetrical modern art feel.
There’s no denying that the ‘flex’ offered by glass picture frames can really liven up the way you display your photos. Offering not only fixed 2, 6 or 8 sided frames, the glass frames can also rotate for added interest.