This visually stunning and technically detailed book is an in-depth analysis of the materials and techniques used on thirty eight of the V&A's Renaissance frames. The book will teach the reader to recognise frame style, structure and surface decoration of the period, as well as additions and alterations and later frames in the style.

Part 1 Part I Renaissance Materials and Techniques; Chapter 01 A Brief Background to Renaissance Frames; Chapter 02 Wood; Chapter 03 Methods of Construction; Chapter 04 Carving (Intaglio); Chapter 05 Gilding; Chapter 06 Cast Work; Chapter 07 Painted Decoration; Chapter 08 Understanding Deterioration and Alteration; Chapter 09 Scientific Analysis; Part 2 Part II The Frames; Chapter 10 Readers' Notes; Chapter 11 Tabernacle Frames; Chapter 1 Carved and Originally Water Gilded and Painted Tabernacle Frame With Lunette; Chapter 2 Carved, Painted and Water Gilded Two-Sided Processional Tabernacle Frame with Lunette and Antependium; Chapter 3 Carved and Water Gilded Tabernacle Frame with Painted Antependium Decorated with Sgrafitto; Chapter 4 Carved and Water Gilded Tabernacle Frame With Broken Pediment Painted with Glazes and Sgrafit to Decoration; Chapter 5 Carved Tabernacle Frame Painted with Trompe L'Oeil Decoration, Triangular Pediment and Antependium; Chapter 6 Painted and Water Gilded Tabernacle Frame with Triangular Pediment and Antependium; Chapter 7 Wather Gilded Tabernacle Frame with Triangular Pediment Decorated with Sgrafit to and Punch Work; Chapter 8 Carved, Water Gilded and Originally Polychromed Tabernacle Frame with Perspective Arch; Chapter 9 Carved, Water Gilded and Painted Tabernacle Frame Decorated with Sgrafitto; Chapter 10 Carved Tabernacle Frame with Pastiglia Relief, Water Gilded with Some Areas Originally Painted Blue; Chapter 11 Tabernacle Frame Painted with Trompe L'Oeil Decoration; Chapter 12 Carved and Polychromed Tabernacle Frame with Dolphin Pediment and Cherub Antependium; Part 3 Cassetta and Tondo Frames; Chapter 13 Carved and Water Gilded Architectural Cassetta Frame Originally Painted with a Blue Background; Chapter 14 Carved and Water Gilded Tondo Frame Originally Painthed with a Blue Background; Chapter 15 Carved, Water Gilded and Painted Cassetta Frame with Extended Corners; Chapter 16 Cassetta Frame with Pastiglia Relief, Water Gilded with Some Areas Originally Painted Blue; Part 4 Mirror Frames; Chapter 17 Painted and Water Gilded Carta Pesta Mirror Frame with Female Figure; Chapter 18 Painted and Water Gilded Stucco Decorated Mirror Frame in the Form of a Ring; Chapter 19 Tondo Frame with Pastiglia Relief, Water Gilded and Decorated with Punch Work; Chapter 20 Carved and Partially Water Gilded Walnut Tondo; Chapter 21 Carved and Originally Water Gilded Frame Thought to have been Ares Thello; Part 5 Sansovino Frames; Chapter 22 Black Painted and Partially Water and Mordant Gilded Mannerist Frame; Chapter 23 Carved Walnut and Partially Water and Mordant Gilded Sansovino Frame; Chapter 24 Carved, Originally Water Gilded Sansovino Frame; Chapter 25 Carved and Pierced Water Gilded Sansovino Frame; Chapter 26 Carved Sansovino Frame, Originally Water Gilded and Painted Black; Chapter 27 Carved Oak Mannerist Frame with Figures of Adam and Eve, Originally Painted and Gilded; Part 6 19th Century; Chapter 28 Part Renaissance and Renaissance Style Frames; Chapter 28 Carved and Orginally Partially Water Gilded Sansovino Frame with Later Painted and Water Gilded Spandrels; Chapter 29 Carved Walnut and Partially Gilded Tabernacle Frame; Chapter 30 Carved Walnut and Partially Gilded Tabernacle Frame with a Side Slot; Chapter 31 Carved Walnut and Partially Gilded Tabernacle Frame with a Side Slotand Carved Grosthes Ques; Chapter 32 Carved and Partially Water Gilded Tabernacle Frame with Pediment of Two Reclining Figures Set Within a Shell; Chapter 33 Carved and Ebonised Tabernacle Style Mirror Frame; Chapter 34 Carved and Partially Mordant Gilded Oval Frame with Cherub Heads; Chapter 35 Carved Walnut, Partially Mordant Gilded Oval Frame with Caryatids; Chapter 36 Carved and Pierced Walnut, Originally Partially Water Gilded Oval Frame;