A flag is thin cloth made to fly, so it sags, creases and fades when it is framed the wrong way. We stitch it to a padded board, give it depth and put UV glazing in front.
We frame national flags, team flags and military flags in our workshop at 1242 Davie Street. A flag is a large piece of thin cloth sewn from several panels and made to move in the wind. Those same qualities cause problems in a frame. Hung from its top edge, a flag sags under its own weight. Pressed against glass, the seams leave marks. In daylight, the dyes fade. The way we mount a flag solves each of these.
Flat or folded
This is the first decision, and it sets the size of everything else.
Compare
Flat display
Folded display
What you see
The whole design
One part of the design
Size of the frame
As large as the open flag, plus a border
Smaller on the wall
Depth of the frame
Shallow
Deep, to hold the layers of cloth
Suits
A flag you want to look at as a picture
A flag that was presented folded, or a wall with little space
A flag that was handed to a family folded is often kept in that fold, because the fold is part of how it was given. Tell us if that is the case with yours.
A flat display takes as much wall as the piece itself. For a sense of that size, Us is an acrylic on canvas, 120 by 120 cm, with outlined faces among streaks of green and black, and it is one of the originals in our gallery.
UsOne-of-a-kind original$2,168.00Free insured shipping. 14-day returns.See this original
How a flat flag is mounted
The flag is laid on an acid-free board that has been padded and covered with plain fabric. Acid-free means the board is made so it does not stain cloth over time. We stitch the flag to the fabric by hand with fine thread, along the top and at points across its whole area, so every part of the cloth is supported. The needle passes between the threads of the weave, and most stitches go through the strongest parts of the flag: the hems, the seams between panels, and the heavy band on the pole side.
No adhesive is used. Glue stiffens cloth, stains it and cannot be taken off again. Stitches can be cut, and the flag comes off the board as it went on. Metal rings and rope on the pole side stay in place.
Depth and glazing
Glazing means the sheet of glass or acrylic at the front. Seams, hems and metal rings are thicker than the rest of the flag, so a spacer, a strip hidden under the frame edge, holds the glazing clear of the highest point. A folded flag goes in a shadow box, a frame built to the depth of the folded cloth. Our shadow box framing page explains how that depth is measured.
We fit UV glazing, which filters out ultraviolet light, the part of daylight that fades dye. See UV glass and glazing. A full-size flag makes a large frame, and at that size we use acrylic. It is lighter than glass and does not shatter. Our oversized framing page covers how large frames are built and what hanging hardware their weight needs.
Creases and worn edges
Some fold lines relax when the cloth is laid flat and supported. Deep creases from years of storage usually stay visible. A flag that flew outdoors may have a frayed edge on the side away from the pole. We support frayed cloth with extra stitches and frame the flag in the condition you bring it.
What changes the cost
Size is the largest factor for a flat flag, because the board, the glazing and the moulding (the shaped length of wood or metal the frame is cut from) all grow with it. Hand stitching takes longer on a large flag and on fragile cloth. A folded display uses less glazing and a deeper box. We quote at the counter once we have seen the flag open.
Size works the same way on a small piece, which needs less board and a shorter length of moulding. Crimson Command, an acrylic on canvas of a woman's face in red, black and white, is 30 by 40 cm.
Bring the flag folded loosely. Tell us what it is made of if you know, where it flew or how it came to you, and where it will hang. If you live outside Vancouver, send its size when fully open and a photograph of the whole flag. Lighter flat textiles are covered on our silk scarf and textile framing page.
Walk in at 1242 Davie Street during opening hours. Enter your email on this page for a 10% framing code to show at the shop, and see custom framing for everything else we frame.
How it works
1
Bring it in, or send photographs
Walk in to 1242 Davie Street during opening hours. If you are not in Vancouver, send the dimensions and a photograph and we will work from that.
2
We look at the actual piece
What it is made of, what condition it is in, and where it is going to hang all change the answer. You get a straight recommendation and a price for your piece, not a rate card.
3
It is made by hand and fitted
Cut to the piece, using conservation materials, and finished with hanging hardware rated for the actual weight.
Common questions
Should a flag be framed flat or folded?
A flag should be framed flat when you want to see the whole design, and folded when it was presented folded or the wall is small. A flat flag needs a frame as large as the open cloth. A folded flag needs a smaller, deeper frame and shows one part of the design. Bring the flag and the size of the wall space, and we explain both options with the flag in front of you.
How is a flag attached inside a frame without glue?
A flag is attached inside a frame by hand stitching it to a padded acid-free board covered in plain fabric. Fine thread runs along the top and at points across the whole flag, mostly through the hems and seams, which are its strongest parts. The stitches can be cut later, and the flag comes off the board unmarked.
How do I know which side of a flag is the front for framing?
The front of a flag is the side where lettering and emblems read the right way round. On a flag printed on one side, the back looks paler and reversed. Before any stitching starts, we lay the flag on the counter with you and agree which side faces forward and which edge is at the top.
Can a large flag be framed behind glass?
A large flag is better framed behind acrylic than behind glass. A sheet of glass the size of a full flag is heavy and dangerous if it breaks. Acrylic is lighter and does not shatter, and it can be supplied with a UV filter. We fit hanging hardware matched to the finished weight of the frame.
Will creases come out of a flag that has been folded for years?
Light fold lines in a flag often relax once the cloth is laid flat and stitched to a support. Deep creases from years of folding usually stay visible. We frame the flag in the condition you bring it. If the creases matter to you, a folded display keeps the original fold and makes them part of the presentation.
Can a frayed flag that flew outdoors be framed?
Yes, a frayed flag that flew outdoors can be framed. We support the worn edge with extra stitches to the padded board so the loose threads stop moving, and we leave the fraying as it is. Many people want the wear to show, because it is evidence that the flag was flown.
Can a folded flag share a frame with medals and a portrait?
Yes, a folded flag can share one shadow box with medals and a portrait. This is a common group for a family member who served. Each item has its own mount, and the box is built to the depth of the folded cloth. Our medal framing page explains how medals are held.
10% off your custom framing when you show this code at our shop
We frame, stretch canvas and reframe by hand, in our own workshop inside the gallery at
1242 Davie Street. Enter your email and your code appears right here. Show it at the
counter and we take 10% off the job. The code does not expire.
Send the measurements, what it is made of, and a photograph. We will tell you what it actually needs, including when the answer is that it needs less than you expected.
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In-shop offer · 1242 Davie Street, Vancouver
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Add your name and email and your code appears on the next screen. Show it at the counter
and we take 10% off any framing, stretching or reframing job you bring us. It does not
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I had a wonderful experience with Van Art Hub Gallery. I came across two pieces by Melina Ghaemi — *Mad Mirrors* and *Small World in the Hands of a Stranger* — and immediately fell in love with them.
I contacted Van Art Hub Gallery, and they were incredibly helpful throughout the entire process, from arranging the payment to organizing the shipping. At first, I was a little skeptical and nervous about how everything would work, especially since the paintings were still in Iran and it was shortly after the war. But the gallery handled everything with such professionalism and care that my concerns quickly disappeared. Amazingly, they were able to get the paintings to Canada in just two days!
The pieces are absolutely captivating. Even when I picked them up from the frame maker and was simply carrying them to my car, several people stopped and asked me about the paintings. That says a lot about how striking and special Melina Ghaemi’s work is.
A big thank you to Van Art Hub Gallery for making this experience so smooth and enjoyable. I truly appreciated their professionalism, communication, honesty, and integrity throughout the entire process. I would happily work with them again and highly recommend them to anyone interested in purchasing art through the gallery.
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