An original painting on canvas from the VanArtHub gallery at 1242 Davie Street in Vancouver.

Objects & textiles · Vancouver

Medal & Insignia Framing

Medals, insignia and service awards mounted in a shadow box so each piece is held without adhesive and can be removed again. Vancouver, 1242 Davie Street.

Ask about your piece All framing services

Medals are usually irreplaceable, frequently someone else's, and often the only physical thing left from a period of a family's history. That shapes every decision: nothing is glued, nothing is drilled, nothing is trimmed, and everything we do can be undone.

Mounted, not stuck

Each piece is held by a mount shaped to it, which touches only where it can safely take the weight, usually the ribbon or the suspension rather than the medal face. The mount is hidden behind the piece so what you see is the medal, not the fixing. Nothing enters the object itself.

Floated, so they read as objects

Medals are set slightly proud of the backing board so they cast a shadow. It sounds like a detail and it is the difference between a case of medals and a photograph of some medals. The box is then built deep enough that the glazing is clear of the highest point, with spacers holding it off.

Ribbons

Ribbon is the part that fades, and it fades fast. Any group going on a wall with daylight gets UV glazing. If the ribbons are already fragile, say so, because they may need supporting along their length rather than only at the top.

Order and context

If the medals should be in a particular order, bring a note of it or lay them out for us. We would rather ask than guess, and getting the order wrong on a set of service medals is the kind of mistake that is obvious to the family and invisible to us.

floated, so it casts a shadow hidden mount, shaped to the object spacer
An object is floated a few millimetres off the backing board so it casts a shadow and reads as an object rather than as a picture of one. It is held by a mount shaped to it, which touches only where it can safely bear weight, and which can be released without leaving a mark.

How it works

  1. 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. 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. 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

Will framing damage the medals?

No. Each piece is held by a hidden mount shaped to it, touching only where it can take the weight, usually the ribbon or the suspension rather than the face. Nothing is glued, nothing is drilled, and nothing enters the object.

Why are medals floated off the backing?

So they cast a shadow and read as objects rather than as a photograph of objects. It sounds like a detail and it is the main difference between a case of medals and a flat picture of them.

Do medal ribbons fade?

Quickly, and they are usually the first thing to go. Any group going on a wall that gets daylight should have UV glazing. If the ribbons are already fragile, say so, because they may need supporting along their length rather than only at the top.

Can the medals be taken out again?

Yes. Everything is reversible, which matters more here than almost anywhere else, because these are usually irreplaceable and frequently belong to a family rather than to one person.

Does the order of the medals matter?

It usually does, and we would rather ask than guess. Bring a note of the correct order or lay them out for us. Getting it wrong is obvious to the family and invisible to us.

Can medals be framed with a photograph or documents?

Yes, and it is common. A portrait, a service record or a citation alongside the medals gives them context. Bring everything you are considering, including pieces you are unsure about.

Other things we frame

Where to find us

VanArtHub Gallery 1242 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1N3
Canada
Monday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Get directions Call (604) 401-9499

Not sure what yours needs?

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.

Ask about your piece Every framing page