Wood
Ephraim Pottery has worked hard since its founding in 1996 to build a reputation for creating the finest quality handmade art pottery and tile. When we introduced our new line of tiles in January 2012, we knew that any frames we would offer to our customers had to match the quality and craftsmanship of our ceramics. John Raymond, who joined Ephraim in 2001 to head up our glazing department, is also an experienced woodworker with a passion for the Arts and Crafts style. It had long been a dream of John’s to put his woodworking skills to use at Ephraim. With his attention to detail and unflinchingly high standards, we knew he’d be up for the challenge. We are confident that every frame that leaves our studio will meet or exceed our customers’ expectations.
John has done extensive research on the methods used by the furniture makers and woodworkers of the Arts and Crafts era. He experimented with different techniques and processes on his own before moving into woodworking full-time for Ephraim. John makes Ephraim’s frames in very much the same way that woodworkers did in the early 20th century. There are more than two dozen steps involved in the making of a single frame. “Some of the steps could be eliminated or simplified,” explains John, “but in doing so I feel that the quality would not be in keeping with the Arts and Crafts tradition.”
About our frames
John begins by carefully selecting the wood for each frame. He pays special attention to direction of the grain and the character of the wood, incorporating as many medullary rays – those silver-like flecks or flakes found in quarter-sawn grain – as possible. Then comes the intricate process of cutting, planing, and sanding. No metal hardware is used to secure the joints; pegs add extra stability and aesthetic appeal. Our logo is burned into the back of each frame as a permanent identifier. The multi-step finishing process incorporates fuming, staining, shellacking and waxing. The result is a Mission-style frame of the highest quality. Paired with one of our tiles, the finished piece is a work of art that truly evokes the Arts and Crafts movement which inspired it.
About our stands
Tile stands from Ephraim Studios are a great solution for those who wish to display our tiles on a tabletop or who have simply run out of wall space to hang art. Our stands are made by hand using a process similar to that of our frames. White oak is cut, planed, and sanded to perfection before our logo is branded onto the back. The stands are then fumed and stained to darken the wood to a classic Arts-and-Crafts hue. Polyurethane is applied to seal and protect the wood.
The finished stand is versatile and easy to assemble – simply slip prongs of the base through the holes on the back of the upright, pinching the prongs together slightly with your thumb and forefinger if necessary, as shown in the photo below. One end of the base is slightly tapered. Inserting the base with the tapered side down inclines the upright a bit more; placing the flat side of the base down moves the upright a bit more towards the vertical. This allows you to adjust the display angle to your preference. To disassemble, simply slide the prongs on the base out of the upright and store the two pieces flat.
We offer three sizes of stands designed to complement tiles that are 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 inches in height. Choose the size that is most aesthetically pleasing to you based on the height of the tile you wish to display.