Burlwood Picture Frame

Dimensions: Height, 15.75 inches; Width, 12 inches; Thickness, ¾ inch; Weight, 3 pounds. This beautiful piece of old burlwood forms a striking background for displaying a favorite photo, whether a family member, a beloved pet, a landscape scene, or other artistic image. (Personally, I think an old black-and-white picture of an aged ancestor would look really good in this frame.) After inserting your chosen photo, you should tighten the four screws very gently, to avoid cracking the Plexiglass cover. It has a D-ring attached to the back, so all you need in order to hang it is to put a screw or nail into a wall. $75. Click here to purchase.

The Story

I found an oval tabletop in an alley in my Glover Park neighborhood of D.C. It was warped/cupped and had a crack on one edge, so I knew it was not a good candidate to be used in any new piece of furniture. While considering what to do with it, I used paint stripper to help remove the old varnish and stain. That’s when the underlying beauty of the wood really revealed itself. I’m not completely sure what type of wood it is, but my best guess, based on its pattern and tone, is rosewood. I’m sure it was a beautiful table when it was new. I decided to make it into a simple picture frame that would show off the wood—as I had done for a previous project using leftover antique wood. I cut the oval down to the biggest rectangle that was possible, then used a belt sander and then sandpaper to smooth out both sides and the edges. To bring out the natural color and patterns in the grain, I applied Watco Natural (clear) Danish Oil. I decided not to apply any varnish or polyurethane, to avoid making the piece too shiny. I had some Plexigleas leftover from other projects and used a special jigsaw blade to cut it to the desired dimensions. To hold it in place, I bought four little antique-bronze screws from my local Ace (Glover Park) Hardware store. Yes, the frame is still slightly convex, curving out from the wall, but that’s just part of its upcycled character.

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