Agave art in a saguaro frame

Every now and then, I scan Etsy for all things agave—live plants, garden ornaments, art, etc.—just to see what's being offered. I literally just look; I can count the number of purchases on two hands. But a few weeks ago, I found something I had to have: a linocut print of a flowering agave by Chicago-area printmaker Alejandra Brightbill:


I love everything about this print. The fact that it was only $26 made it even sweeter. Beautiful and affordable!

Initially, I was going to mat the print and put it in a contemporary metal frame, but then I had a stroke of brilliance. Years ago, my mother-in-law, an inveterate yard sale explorer, had given me an 8×10 inch frame “made from the ribs of a sahuaro:”


It came from a place called The Cactus Shop in Florence, Arizona, owned at the time by an F. E. White:


Based on the spelling of “sahuaro,” I assumed this frame was quite old. The only reference to F. E. White I found was in a July 13, 1918 (!) blurb in the Arizona Copper Camp weekly:


I have no clue how the frame was made (woodworking is a mystery to me), but it has a lot of character:




Here is the finished piece:


I'm so glad I hung on to this old frame for so long. I knew that eventually I'd find the perfect piece of art to put in it!


© Gerhard Bock, 2021. All rights reserved. To receive all new posts by email, please subscribe here.

Comments

  1. You have a great story and a beautiful piece of art! From watching the Antique Road Show I learned how provenance is important to the value of antiques. I'm glad your research into this unique frame provided some information: I can't think of a more suitable match of art and frame
    "Arizona Copper Camp weekly"... a name that conjures the wild west :-D

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  2. Oh!!! That's fabulous. I love the print, but the frame (and it's story) makes it even better.

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  3. Love the "live" edge on your saguaro frame. And that is a steal for that gorgeous print.

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  4. Perfect! As nice as the print is, the frame is art in itself.

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  5. Soooo gorgeous! What a perfect pairing!

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  6. Stroke of genius! Looks fabulous and suits the time frame of the woodcut.

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  7. That is THE perfect frame for a great print.

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  8. Love it! And had no idea such things could be fashioned from cacti!

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    1. I've never seen a cactus frame quite like it. Something LIKE THIS is more typical.

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    2. Thanks for the extra info, I had no idea!

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  9. I have a wall of black and white prints and this would fit in quite well ! That frame is so unique-and a yard sale find no less.

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    1. I found a real didgeridoo in a yard sale once, not a cheap tourist reproduction. So you never know...

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  10. That's stunning -- a perfect frame for a great piece of art.

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  11. Oh, my goodness, I am SO jealous! What an amazing pairing! I love it so much. I am going to search here in the Phoenix area for another "saguaro" frame! Maybe I will get lucky!!!

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    1. Nancy, you have the best chance of finding a saguaro frame, considering you're at the source. Maybe antique stores?

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