French Antique Brass Photo Frame Floral Crest Glass Standing 27062615

French Brass Photo Frame

A late 19th-century French brass photo frame from the studio of J. Marcou, a photographer based in Nimes, France. The maker's name and city are engraved directly onto the beveled glass front panel, along with decorative etched borders, confirming its provenance as a professional studio portrait frame. This type of French brass photo frame was produced to display cabinet card photographs, a format popular during the Belle Epoque period from the 1880s through the early 1900s.

The frame is constructed with a thin brass border and features a beveled glass front, now showing characteristic age-related patina and light internal fogging consistent with over a century of use. The standout decorative element is the ornate cast brass crest affixed to the top edge, depicting a wreath of laurel interwoven with roses and flowers in high relief — a motif typical of Louis XVI revival and Belle Epoque decorative arts. The frame stands on two round brass ball feet and includes a metal easel support on the reverse, which retains the original cardboard backing printed with the studio's name: J. Marcou, Photographie Artistique, Nimes. A hanging loop is also present on the reverse, allowing for wall display. The back cardboard shows age browning and wear, consistent with the period.

The frame measures approximately 11cm x 20.5cm (4.3" x 8.1"), not including the ornamental crest, which adds further height. Overall dimensions with crest are approximately 11cm x 27cm (4.3" x 10.6").

A functional and historically specific piece, this French brass photo frame is well suited to collectors of 19th-century photography ephemera, Belle Epoque decorative objects, or French regional studio memorabilia. It displays equally well on a desk or hung on a wall.

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